134 THE OPEN BOOK OF NATURE 
Suppose you have got a specimen of the Wild Carrot, 
root and all—sketch the root and write : “ Spindle- 
shaped root of Wild Carrot” as a description. I 
know that once I have photographed a plant, its 
name and form is indelibly fixed in my memory ; 
and I am sure that once you have sketched a root, 
or any other part of a plant, if you have used the 
right term in description of your sketch, you will 
always remember it. 
Sketch and describe leaves, stipules, bracts, 
flowers, and inflorescences. Do the same with 
fruits and seeds. Even when you are not out on 
a collecting excursion, but are walking along the 
road on some errand, or strolling round the garden 
or park, take note of the plants you pass. Say 
to yourself: “That Rose has pinnate leaves; its 
leaflets have serrate margins, and I see stipules at 
the base of the leaf-stalks.” Or, ‘‘ I wonder what 
is the proper term to use in describing the in- 
florescence of the flowering Currant which I see just 
here ? I must look it up when I get home.” Take 
notes by the way ; ask yourself questions and ferret 
out the answers; that is the way to make progress 
in any study. | 
A good way to get familiar with the forms of 
leaves is to make prints of them on photographic 
paper. Get a photographic printing-frame with a 
piece of clean glass which fits it. An old negative, 
with the film removed, does admirably. Place 
your leaf carefully on the glass, then lay your paper 
face downwards on the leaf; close the frame, and 
expose to the light. After a good exposure the 
uncovered portions of the paper will be very dark. 
