James Eustace Bagnall

“ And, as the earth’s first mercy, so they are its last gift to we: when all other service is vain, from plant and tree, the soft mosses and gray lichen take up their watch by the head-stone. The woods, the blossoms, the gift-bearing grasses, have done their parts for a time ”

“ A pocket lens will be required for the examination of the plants in the field, one having a power of about ten diameters, i.e., about one inch focal length, will be found serviceable, and if with two powers, i.e., one inch and half-inch, still more so. Those lenses, fitted in horn cases, may be obtained from any of our local opticians at from 1s. upward, the price varying according to the finish of the article. If the School Microscope mentioned below is obtained, one or more of the lenses supplied with it may be made to do service in the field ”

“ As a simple microscope it will always be useful for dissecting and mounting purposes, and I can say with confidence that the student who has acquired all the knowledge of structure that this cheap little instrument will place within his reach will have gained such an insight into the moss world as will enable him to determine with a little patience the most difficult of mosses. ”

“ And here I may observe that at first it would be advisable to collect these mosses only which have their fruit fully matured, and then, when these have been carefully examined and their distinguishing characters mastered, barren specimens may be collected; for many of our rarest British mosses are more frequently found barren then fruiting, and they must not, of course, be neglected. ”