128 Hints to the Young Botanist. 



Sanguinaria Canadensis, with its palmate-lobed leaf and rich 

 white flower, and the delicate Claytonia, with its pretty rose-co- 

 lored Corolla, and the discovery of even one of these floral pioneers 

 in early spring, gives as much gratification to the mind of the ex- 

 cm-sionist, as the richer and more luxuriant collections of midsum- 

 mer. The Composite plants of August and September, the waving 

 Grasses, the Ferns with their handsome fronds, and the delicate 

 tufted Mosses adorn the autumnal season, whose close is marked 

 by the bright and picturesque tints of leaves that once were green. 

 The varieties of flowers characteristic of spring, summer and au- 

 tumn, form a pleasing contrast to the mind, and this circumstance 

 alone stimulates the enthusiasm of the botanist to continue his re- 

 searches sedulously in the field till plants be no more. 



The young botanist, who commences the collection and preserv- 

 ing of plants, should determine to prosecute his labours with zeal 

 and assiduity. Without this ennobling spirit, he will ere long 

 find what he at first considered a pleasure, to become an arduous 

 task, fruitful of no enjoyment. His excursions to the country 

 should be frequent, and as varied as possible ; visiting mountain, 

 hill, field, forest, valley, marsh, island, river and lake-shores. He 

 should make a point, also, of collecting and preserving specimens 

 of every plant that crosses his path, in order to render his herba- 

 rium a complete one. He can adopt no better plan at the begin- 

 ing than to confine liimself to a certain well-defined district, and 

 to collect all the plants within it. When his herbarium of the dis- 

 trict is complete, it will be of greater value than a larger but more 

 scattered collection, and should opportunity permit, he can readily 

 extend his researches over a wider range of country. To a resi- 

 dent in Montreal, its Mountain, so rich in plants and so near at 

 hand, afi'ords facilities for the formation of a beautiful herbarium 

 of no small size, or the Island itself, if botanized throughout its 

 whole extent, will furnish a characteristic collection of plants, 

 many of them to be found within an extended range of latitude 

 and longitude on either side. To relieve the monotony of a bo- 

 tanical excursion, it is advisable to be accompanied by one or 

 more companions, who, besides afibrding pleasant society, will 

 often be more fortunate in finding plants, and none more wil- 

 ling to favor another with duplicate specimens. 



On starting upon a botanical excursion, it is requisite to be 

 equipped with convenient apparatus for collecting and carrying 

 plants. The following may be mentioned among the instruments 

 most required : 



