How to Study Them. 



53 



CHAPTER VII. 



HOW TO STUDY FERNS. 



The great benefit whicli a scientific education bestows, whether aa training or 

 as knowledge, is dependent upon the extent to which the student * * learns 

 the habit of appealing directly to Nature. — Huxley . 



105. Determination of Species. The first thing to learn about 

 a plant or animal is not its name, but its structural characteristics, 

 knowing which the name can be readily determined. Having 

 provided ourselves with a strong lens, two or more needles 

 mounted in wooden handles for dissecting purposes, and a few 

 well fruited ferns taken with the roots, we are prepared to com- 

 mence our study. In investigating any plant we should be sys- 

 tematic and accurate in our observations, and no subject will 

 develop order and accuracy of description or enlarge our powers 

 of observation as will the subject of botany rigidly pursued. 

 In order to fix the characters of the fern in question, it is well 

 to note them down in some systematic order, and the prepara- 

 tion of blanks like the following is suggestive for the purpose : 



Synoptical Characters of 



KHIZOMA. 



STIPE. 

 FROND. 



VEINS. 



SOBI. 



SPOEANGIA. 



SPORES. 



-^ 



