:« now TO STUDY THE GRASSES. 



lu'odlos mounted in luuulle-s. C'oniinoii niiinlicr fivo noi'dios, 

 Ijroken in two, und witli forceps puslied blunt end first into tlio 

 pitli of u one-} car-old stem of European lurch, iire cheap, nice, 

 and durahle. There should he some means of adjusting or vary- 

 ing the focal distance of the microscope. A small, sharp kuife, 

 and a pair of fine-pointed forceps will lu^ very usi'ful. 



Take in hand a complete specimen of some grass, the name of 

 which is well known. AVe will suppose it is a sample of Timothy 

 (PIilcHin. ]>r((fe)isr, Jj). If dry, the flowers or top can he made 

 soft by soaking in Avater, if warm all the better. The roots are 

 fibrous; the stalk, ciiJni, has solid joints, hodcs, from each of 

 which starts a leaf. Towards the base of the stalk, the nodes 

 are close together, and one or more jnay be enlarged or swollen 

 into a simple fuher or coi'di, sometimes improperly spoken of as 

 the I/kU). For some distance above each node, the sheath of the 

 leaf rolls like a scroll around the stem, one edge covering the 

 other closely, but usually not growing fast together. At the 

 upper end of the sheath, the blade of the leaf si)reads away from 

 the culm. Just "where the blade leaves the stem, at the throat 

 ()( the sheath, is a delicate ring, fringe, or often a thin, scarious 

 appendage. This is the Jlyitlv, the form of which is usually 

 constant in all the plants of one sjiecics. 



The leaves are alternate, one at each node, and two ranked, i. e., 

 there are two rows of leaves alternating with each other on 

 ojiposite sides of the stem. The leaves are parallel veined, and 

 may be stripped or torn lengthwise into narrow pieces. The 

 beginner may consult the clia})tcr which treats of leaves. 



The top of the stem bears a cylindrical tipiJce of S2)ikelets, some 

 of which on close examination, it v.ill be seen, have very short 

 branches. Select a small portion of the material from the spike 

 and place in a drop of water, while it is seen with the microscope. 

 AVith one needle hold a portion fast, and with the other or with 

 the force^if! separate the parts of tlie specimen. 



