8 THE OPEN BOOK OF NATURE 
The daisy has not told us all its story, but it has 
given us enough of it to make us realize how wonder- 
ful it is. When you know more of botany, and the 
structure, organs, and operations of flowers, you 
will be able to fill in many details that have been 
omitted. 
This daisy story has taken up more of our space 
than 1 wanted it to occupy, but there are some few 
things I must yet say in these introductory words. 
I am writing with three objects in view. In the 
first place I wish to stimulate your love of Nature 
and your desire to know more about her ways. 
This I hope to do by telling you some interesting 
facts. Then I want to give you some guidance in 
the pursuit of your studies. I find that many young 
people are almost frightened by the array of subjects 
that are open for inquiry. The field of Nature is 
so vast that they despair of gaining any close know- 
ledge, or they do not know where to begin. And, 
in the third place, I want you to become practical 
naturalists. 
I will take it for granted that you already desire 
to study natural history, and wish to know where 
to begin. Well, begin just where you are. Go out 
of doors, and take note of the first natural object 
that attracts your attention, notice its outstanding 
features, its peculiar habits, and see what it does in 
its natural surroundings. If you don’t know what 
the object is, ask someone wiser than yourself, 
consult books, and get to know all that you possibly 
can about it. The probability is that the first thing 
you notice will be something of which you know the 
name—a flower, an insect, a bird. When I opened 
