erns. Beginners will find "The Flower
Guide," by Chester A. Reed (Doubleday, Page & Co.) to be useful. After a
good start has been made, such books as Gray's _Manual_, or Britton and
Brown's _Illustrated Flora_ should be used.

Our pursuit, however, should not stop with the name of a plant. That is
a mere beginning. Even slight attention will uncover many fascinating
things in the lives of plants. Why cannot a farmer raise a good crop of
clover-seed without the bumble-bees? What devices are there among the
Orchids to bring about cross-pollination? (See "Our Native Orchids," by
William Hamilton Gibson). Examine the flower of the wild Blue Flag, and
see whether you can determine how the bumble-bee cross-pollinates this
plant. Do the Hummingbirds cross-pollinate some flowers? In what plants
is the pollen scattered by the wind? Do these plants produce nectar?

[Illustration: GAILLARDIA OR BLANKET-FLOWER

Daisy family. Range: Hills and plains of western United States and
Canada. Photograph by Albert E. Butler.]

How do the various plants scatter their seeds? How are the Hickory-nuts
and Walnuts scattered? The Dandelion's and Thistle's seeds have
flying-hairs or parachutes and are blown about by the wind. What other
plants can you find whose seeds are scattered in the same way? Can you
discover a plant whose seeds are carried by water? The Witch-hazel
shoots its seeds. What other plants can you find that have explosive
fruits? Cherry-seeds are carried by birds. Mention some other seeds that
are carried in this way. It would take very little observation to learn
how Burdock-burs, Cockle-burs, Stick-tights, Beggar-lice,
Spanish-needles, and such hooked fruits are scattered.

[Illustration: BLACK-EYED SUSAN

A beautiful and abundant flower of the fields. Range: Eastern North
America westward to the Rocky Mountains. Photograph by G. Clyde Fisher.]

Learn the names of the principal noxious weeds of the farm and garden,
and also learn the best methods of combating them.

Learn to know the plants in your vicinity which are used in the making
of drugs.

[Illustration: LOCO-WEED

A poisonous plant which produces loco-disease in cattle, sheep, and
horses that eat it. Range: Plains from Montana to Colorado. Photograph
by Albert E. Butler.]

Learn to know the poisonous plants around your home and summer camp. Are
the following to be found there: Poison Ivy, Poison Sumach, Loco-weed,
Bittersweet (_Salanum Dulcamara_), Black