74 A US TRALIAN BO TAN V. 



generally, botany will take its proper place as a necessary 

 branch of education. No geographical lesson will then 

 be complete without a glance at the vegetation of the 

 locality or country under description. The pointing out 

 of the Australian Alps will be accompanied by a verbal 

 sketch of their vegetation, and an interest thus be infused 

 into the bare description of places, heights, and distances. 

 The truth of the doctrine that nature created nothing in 

 vain will be made manifest, and the reproach removed, 

 that in a land remarkable for its botanical wonders, nine- 

 tenths of the rising generation are practically ignorant of 

 the vegetation of the country in which they were born. 



Examination or Dissection. — Before attempting to ascer- 

 tain the family and genus of a plant, a knowledge of the 

 Natural System must be acquired. It will, however, be 

 found most useful (even with the knowledge the student 

 has acquired from the preceding pages) to undertake a 

 classification of specimens. The following rules must be 

 observed : — First, determine the division or class. Next, 

 the family or order. Then the genus. Next the species, 

 and perhaps the variety. With the aid of the Lessons and 

 Glossary material progress should be made. 



Ferns. — In the lesson on acotvledons, allusion was made 

 to the fact that the collection of ferns is a favourite pursuit. 

 A few lines of practical direction as to their preservation 

 may therefore be interesting. In order to dry ferns, put 

 them carefully between pieces of stout, dry blotting-paper ; 

 being particular to place them flat, and in their natural 

 positions. When the whole number of specimens have 

 been thus disposed of, cover them with a board at least 

 one inch longer and wider than the paper, and place on 



