312 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. | Nov., 
before, not only the laboratory arrangement I am about to describe, but the - 
whole bearing of the paper can be really understood. 
That scheme includes the more important plant products, and by studying 
any plant as indicated the student is acquainted with a good number of them. 
In spite of time required, the qualitive value of the quantitative work makes 
its omission impossible. It frequently tells where the individuality or active 
principle of the plant lies. Of course this is the real end of botanical proxi- 
mate analysis. 
The books needed in carrying out this analysis are easily obtained. Prof. 
Goodale and Bessey’s botanies and Prof. Trelease’s translation of Poulsen’s Bo- 
tanical Micro-Chemistry give directions for the micro-chemical work, and 
Dragendorff’s Plant Analysis for the macro-chemical, Dragendorff’s book 
is rather difficult for-beginners, but can be supplemented by the investiga- 
tions of some one who has followed his general plan. Miss Helen Abbott read 
a paper, entitled “A chemical study of Yucca Angustifolia,” before the Associ- 
ation last year that seems to me particularly suited to this purpose. It is some- 
thing more than an intelligent following of Dragendorff. It is a model as re- 
gards the use of the five senses and in its deductions from what is observed. 
This last alone would be sufficient reason for placing it before students. 
The plant to be taken depends upon the end in view. If investigators in 
botany are to be trained a fresh plant will be chosen each time for the purpose 
of stimulating observation and generalization. If botanical information is to 
be given in a short period of time some plant whose anatomy is familiar will 
anic 
n products and showing its chemical characteristics most 
readily on the upplication of proper tests will, of course, answer best. If this 
plant was one, one or more of whose constituents were sold on the market, these 
could then be obtained in sufficient quanties to allow that fuller study that 1s 
not possible with the amounts obtained in the above analysis 
If the introductory remark that chemistry lies at the bottom of all botan- 
ical work is accepted, then a botanical laboratory will be a chemical laboratory 
with convenient arrangements for plant study. I have here a plan of a labora 
tory desk that I have arranged for the work. While a modified chemical lab- 
oratory desk it seems to me not unsuited to all work now generally done in bo- 
tanical laboratories. The desk is 40 in, lor g, 36 in. high, and 31 in, deep. It has 
drawers and three cupboards. Cupboard A is for the compound msicny: 
scope, drawer B for the apparatus generally used with it, and C for mounting 
materials is for the simple microscope and other apparatus used in analy2- 
- HY can be drawn ont and used for holding mount 
Specimens from the herbarium near by. HH are pieces that form a table for : 
© compound or simple microscope when drawn out, The desks are set in 
ps of four, as a whole having the shape of a truncated triangle. Book- 
y 
