The Red Cloud chief., 1901-08-16
BEGIN NOW.

Now IL the best time to begin the
study of botany. Awful dry stuff" |
hear you say. Well, you'll say differ
entity after q while, and, ere long, you
will be reading up thoroughly In every
branch Of the science; that is, a. far
~ you can within the next three
months, and you will be able to accom-
plish . great deal in that time II you
90 about It 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 ripeninS OF Its seed.
Then take up morpholosy, then plant
relation, and 90 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 1t 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 60 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 q wisdom and beauty to which
you were blind before; the woods and
fields will have q new meaning for you
and you will love them in a different
way.
Every plant and bush. every tree and
you will see something In the COM
monest leaf and In the unfolding Of a
delicate blossom you shall behold the
refinement Of the sublimest consumma-
ton, the most artistic mystery OF ma
ture. These things which nov 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 o take them
up tendsrly and regard them in a way
that you never did before.
How much more interesting will be
your rambles when you become ac-
quainted with the plants and bios
which decorate the fields and
roadsides, even though your acquaint-
with the flowers be not extensive.
When the wintry days are past and
your fresids study is at an end you
will be impatient to be aaeld. to watch
the sprouting vegetation and the open
Ing Of the leaves. On these 1eld RAM
blings take your book with you-or, II
you think you have advanced far
enough In botany to do without 1t,
leave 1t at home; study the plants
where they grow, try to name them,
and right here will be your most diff
6cult 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 IL you can sketch q 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
aheld will no longer be empty and void
Of beauty. but will be filed with a 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 &C.
Quaintances and you will exclaim,
What q pleasure 1t Ia to know the
fiowers!"-Sports Afeld.