304 AQUATIC MICROSCOPY FOR BEGINNERS. 



remarkable surface sculpturing; It, of course, differs 

 in shape, size, and appearance indifferent plants. The 

 supply of new forms is therefore almost unlimited. In 

 some the yellow dust consists of ovate grains with a 

 central longitudinal depression, like a grain of wheat; 

 in others it is triangular or spherical; in most it is 

 delicately roughened or attractively marked. The 

 pollen of the" Passion-flower, the hollyhock, and the 

 dandelion are especially noteworthy. The study of 

 pollen and the drawing of the magnified image should 

 be particularly pleasant work for ladies. The botan- 

 ical study necessary to identify the plant supplying the 

 pollen is advantageous and agreeable; the delicate mi- 

 croscopical work needed is more than pleasant, and is 

 suited to the refined tastes of the ladies. The use of 

 a pencil to record and preserve the beautiful forms and 

 their markings will add much to the enjoyment and to, 

 the profit; the work will then be both attractive and 

 inspiring. 



i8. Seeds of wild plants form another almost inex- 

 haustible group, some of them being exquisite beyond 

 description. Even, so common and so lowly a plant as 

 the carrot has seeds of peculiar appearance. The 

 poppy, the cardinal flower {Lobelia cardindlis) , and 

 other lobelias, are among the many worth noting. The 

 portulaca and the many wild geraniums are also desir- 

 able. They should be examined dry as opaque ob- 

 jects. The seeds of Colldmia have long been favorites 

 on account of the peculiar spiral vessels on their sur- 

 face. The plant is a subtropical one, and, so far as I 

 know, does not grow uncultivated in any part of our 

 country. The seeds, however, are usually on sale by 

 the microscopical dealers. To see the spirals, cut off 



