March, 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 207 



blooming. The minute Candollea desfecfa was found 

 in a swamp^ together with Lobelia ancefs. Two species 

 of the Australian mistletoe were seen, LorantJius pendulus 

 and L. celastroides, the latter growing on Eticalyptus 

 viminalis, Le-ptosfermum and Casuarina (she-oak). 



In the evening, members gathered in the large lecture 

 tent to hear a lecture by Professor Ewart on the Pollina- 

 tion of Flowers. The Director of Education, Mr. F. 

 Tate, in a short speech, introduced the lecturer. The lec- 

 ture was preceded with a few remarks on Nature-study 

 and the history of botany. Nature-study does not con- 

 ■s.ist of learning off a long list of scientific names. It is 

 far better toi knoiw a few plants well — their habits, 

 growth, chief characters, &c., than to simply learn many 

 names. The oldest school of botanists studied plants 

 from a medicinal point of view only. Then followed the 

 systematists, who^ studied only structure ; they named and 

 catalogued the plants, but neglected the functions,. Pre- 

 sent-dav botanists strive to find out the meaning and uses 

 of the various parts of the plant. 



By means of lantern slides of beautiful photographs 

 of flowers, the lecturer then described some of the most 

 interesting and wonderful methods, by which pollination 

 is effected. The three chief methods by which the pollen 

 is conveyed from the stamens to the carpels are by means 

 of wind, water, and animals. 



Grasses are typical wind-pollinated flowers ; Vallisneria 

 is a typical water-pollinated plant ; and many illustra- 

 tions were presented to sjiow the devices adopted by 

 plants whose flowers are pollinated by means of insects. 

 Some orchids are highly specialized to effect this pur- 

 pose. After a number of questions were answered, the 

 company dispersed and retired to rest. 



Notes on Collecting and Preserving Plants. 



Specimens which are to be dried and kept in a 

 herbarium should be carefully selected so as to get 

 typical forms. They ought to be taken when in flower, 

 but, specimens with the fruit on should also be taken, if 

 possible. Small plants should be collected, roots and all, 

 not omitting the basal leaves. In some plants the basal 

 leaves wither before the time of flowering ; specimens of 

 these should be gathered before the basal leaves have 

 fallen off. It is a good plan to have specimens of 

 plants showing the unopened bud, the ecpanded flower. 



