The Yale expositor., 1901-08-23
BEGIN NOW.

VNOW is tue DeSI tllue 10 DeBlQ the
study of botany. Awful dry stuff"
hear you say. Well, you'll say differ
emily after while, and, ere long, you
will be reading up thoroughly in every
branch Of the science; that is, as far
as you can within the next three
months, and you will be able to accom-
plish a great deal In that time II you
go about II systematically. Begin with
the planting Of the seed and follow the
development and growth OF the plant,
step by step, through all its various
changes till the ripening of its seed.
Then take up morphology, then plant
relation, and so on. Keep right at It;
don't be satisfied with an ordinary
knowledge of the subject but put your
heart In the study and learn it well.
And by the time balmy spring comes
sailing up from the sunny South
heavy with the sweet breath of violet
and clover and bringing its glorious
wealth of sunshine and flowers and
birds and humming bees-you will be
far advanced and can so into the fields
and study the living subjects with a
fund Of knowledge that will compound
itself and bring you tenfold pleasure
and satisfaction. Your eyes will be
open to a wisdom and beauty to which
you were blind before; the woods and
fields will have new meaning for you
and you will love them in a different
way.
EUQrU nIont M httch trpn and
vine, will have a new interest for you
you will see something In the COM
monest leaf and in the unfolding of
delicate blossom you shall behold the
refinement of the sublimest consumma-
ton, the most artistic mystery of ma
ture. These things which now you call
weeds or pretty blossoms and in which
you see nothing beyond their color,
will become living, breathing plants
with wonderfully interesting lives and
characters. You will now take them
up tenderly and regard them in way
that you never did before.
How much more interesting will be
your rambles when you become ac-
quainted with the plants and bios
SONS which decorate the fields and
roadsides, even though your acquaint-
ance with the flowers be not extensive.
When the wintry days are past and
your Preside study is at an end you
will be impatient to be afield, to watch
the sprouting vegetation and the open
ing of the leaves. On these field ram
blings take your book with you-or, il
you think you have advanced far
enough in botany to do without 1t,
leave it at home; study the plants
where they grow, try to name them,
and right here will be your most diff
ficult task; but bear in mind that each
step gained makes the next one easier
Don't be discouraged; for, after these
tedious steps are past, you are then at
the threshold of the most delight
full part of botany. Don't try to
cover too much ground; take your
time and study the plants care
fully-not forgetting to note their
surroundings, make full use Of your
notebook and If you can sketch lit
tie, so much the better; when you come
across plants that are especially inter
esting to you take them home with
you and press them. Now your days
afield will no longer be empty and void
of beauty, but will be filled with new
interest and a charm that never grows
old; the plants will be your compan-
ions and your entertainers; you can
not take the shortest walk but what
you will meet some old friend whom
you will be delighted to see, and every
ramble will add to your list Of ac-
quaintances and you will exclaim,
What a pleasure it is to know the
flowers! "-Sports Afield.