Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-08-05
BOTANY FOR YOUNG FOLKS
AN INTERESTING STUDY FOR THE
LOVERS OF NATURE.

Seeking Information Concerning Plant Life
Fascinating and intellectually frofit-
liable Occupation-A Knowledge which
Excites Delight and Admiration.
Many are under the impression that
to study botany means simply to learn
Latin names, and that the knowledge OF
these names is its only end and aim. II
this were the truth botany would in.
deed be a dry study, though there
would still be some benefit in being able
to speak of plants exactly instead OF
inexactly, and to speak of any possible
plant instead of a restricted number.
But to learn Latin names is only tho
first step in learning to know the plants
they representa- needful step if ones
knowledge is ever to amount to much
but in no sense an end or aim. When
simple handbook can be used SO that
the name of plant can be found in it
the common name always appearing
with the scentific), then all other facts
about the plant can be read at single
glance; and unless this can be done
most of these facts will never be gath
cred. Knowing the name, we find the
manner of the growth of the plant, the
region where it is common or rare, the
character of the spots where it may be
most hopefully looked for, its seasons
for blooming and fruiting, and its rela-
tionship to other species, with the facts
upon which this relationship is found
ed, as we'll as those which make it's in
dividuality clear. Is not all this worth
knowing, even at the cost OF dealing
for the moment with some of the ugli-
est among Latin.. names. If a child finds
rosy Arethusa with twin blossoms,
will not his pleasure in it and his desire
to search the woods and fields for other
flowers both be stimulated by the
knowledge that his treasure is very
rare one? Or if he discovers that the
pretty little bunch berry, which car
pets some woody spot is first cousin to
she big Towering dogwood, and dis
covers too the reason why, will not his
interest in it be increased? Let him
learn why an orchid is an orchid, why
The tiny ladies tresses deserve the
pame as much as the gorgeous cattle
eye or oncidium of the greenhouse, and
he has gained something which surely
cannot decrease his enjoyment of the
beauty of either.
But to do this, it may be objected,
beautiful flowers must be pulled to
pieces, and this will "deaden the sense
of beauty" By no means. The truth
is quite the other way. No one who
has not once pulled flower to pieces
can realize. in the great majority of
oases, how, beautiful it is. All its beauty
is not in its larger features or on the
outside of its cup. In the interior, in
the hidden recesses whore the great
work of reproduction goes on in
myriad different ways, each more mar
vellous and admirable than the other
here resides great part of the beauty
of all flowers and the greater part OF
the beauty of not few.
Even if 1t led to nothing but knowl-
edge of natures delight in making the
tiniest features Of her productions love-
ly to our eyes, the close examination OF
floral structures would be we'll worth
many hours of busy mans time.
Once this has been learned, we do not
need always to see it. Seeing the
flower as whole, we not only know
Its name, habits and relationships, but
remember Its structure. The exterio,
suggests the interior, and knowledge
of the interior explains the lovely in
dividuality of the envelope. Even the
slightest smattering of botanical knowl"
edge will greatly increase instead OF
lessening the enjoyment of any one
who by nature has any love for flow
erS.
To learn enough to widen ones in
terest in natures products is not
very difficult task. Indeed, there is no
other science in which beginning is
so easily made or gives so large a re.
turn in pleasure. Materials for study
are everywhere at hand; no travelling is
needed, no great exertion and no out.
lay of money. The nsedful tools aye
as easily procured. A single hand.
book will give all requisite preliminary
instruction, full descriptions of all
plants within very wide area, CLOS.
sary of terms to help out the weakest
memory, dictionary of common
names. With G knife, long pin and
a common magnifying glass the stu.
dent has all he wants; and plants, even
when withered and dissected, make
litter to which no mother would object
as she might to the materials of the
boy who has passion for flying and
creeping things.
A few weeks Of work, with living
plants to illustrate the printed text,
will seem more like play than work,
and will enable any young person to
identify all the plants in the neighbor.
hood of his home. OF all the sciences
this is the one whose study should
meet with every encouragement as
happy and useful employment for our
young folks summer hours.