THE STUDY OF PLANTS 19 



usually careful to see that we get our money's worth, but 

 it is even more important to make sure that we get our 

 time's worth. 



Your teacher is as much interested as you are in your 

 understanding the reasons for studying plants. If you 

 understand the aims of this course and keep them clearly 

 in mind, you are certain to be interested in it. If you are 

 interested, you are pretty sure to get your time's worth. 

 If not, you are pretty sure to fail to get it. It is a simple 

 matter. You must become interested if only to keep from 

 wasting time, which is about the most valuable thing you 

 possess. 



So here are set down some of the reasons for studying 

 about plants. Consider them carefully. If they seem to 

 you good, the hours you spend should yield much profit. 

 If they seem to you insufficient, there may be others which 

 will appeal to you more. But by all means or by any 

 means get interested if you possibly can, if only for the sake 

 of getting a proper return for your precious time. 



Reasons for studying plants : — 



a. Because without plants we should all die. We 

 depend upon them for food, for clothing, and for shelter. 

 These are the three fundamental needs of life. Whoever 

 is interested in life needs knowledge of the means which 

 support life. 



b. Because knowledge of plant life may help us keep 

 well and prosperous ; it may keep us from being sick or 

 hungry. Even such a brief course as this will give you a 

 chance to understand the principles of plant cultivation. 

 This is the art upon which our food supply chiefly depends. 

 Knowledge of its principles is necessary for good gardening 

 or good farming. Certain very simple plants called bacteria 



