INTBODVCTION. 9 



ture, function, etc. could be taken up and somewhat exhaus- 

 tively studied ; the general characters of the twigs and branches 

 of various shrubs and trees, the Lichens obtainable in open 

 weather, Mosaes which may be found in fruit at almost any 

 time in the year, or still other objects, could be the first mate- 

 rial for study. If the work be commenced in spring or sum- 

 mer, plants without number can be obtained, and the study 

 could be commenced equally well with either roots, stems, 

 leaves, flowers, or fruit. If the material needed can be ob- 

 tained in sufficient abundance, it will be well to take up the 

 several subjects in the logical order presented in the following 

 pages. 



6. One of the valuable, if not essential, aids to careful and 

 systematic study is the making of an outline or tabulation of 

 the points observed and the information gained from the mate- 

 rial under examination. The note-book should always be at 

 hand and judiciously used. To both pupil and teacher it 

 should furnish evidence daily of increase of knowledge and 

 growing ability to discern. No less important is it to repre- 

 sent by outline drawings all the parts studied. This necessi- 

 tates a close and detailed examination which otherwise would 

 in very many cases not be made. The pocket lens should be 

 daily called into requisition whenever its use might be advan- 

 tageous. Preservation of representative specimens of every- 

 thing studied is also recommended. This will enable one at 

 any time to review or re-examine that which has been pre- 

 viousl}^ subjected to complete or partial investigation. Besides, 

 it is a convenient record of the labor performed. The Flora, 

 constituting the last portion of this book, or any other manual 

 of plants, can, after a few weeks of such study, be satisfactorily 

 used in identifying the native plants of the region. 



