RELATIONS OF PLANTS TO EACH OTHER 197 



It will be found most convenient to select the most 

 accessible forest and make visits of several hours 

 each to it on several days, which may be a week or 

 a month apart. This may be done by using the 

 weekly holiday for excursions, which may also be 

 made the opportunity of collecting material for other 

 experiments, and for the observation of reproduction, 

 dissemination of seeds and fruits, action of leaves, 

 etc. It is indispensable that some member of the 

 party should be able to identify the common species 

 of plants found in the community, and it will be 

 highly profitable and necessary that all should use a 

 manual in taking the census of the flora. 



On the first visit to the forest walk over its entire 

 area, or enough of it to gain a general idea of its 

 extent, the character of its surface, whether level or 

 hilly, the direction in which it slopes, the drainage, 

 streams, ponds, or lakes. It will be important to as- 

 certain whether the forest has been visited by fire or 

 damaged by grazing animals. Furthermore, notes 

 should be begun and carried throughout the observa- 

 tions upon the animals which inhabit or frequent the 

 forest, and their influence upon the distribution of 

 seeds or pollen. 



Is the soil swampy, moist, or dry ? What is its 



