60 THREE KINGDOMS. 



up a brook, find what plants accompany it, why 

 they are absent in some places and abundant in 

 others. A waste piece of land ; see what w r eeds, 

 shrubs or trees are there ; how they came, which 

 were first arrivals, why not all the immigrants re- 

 mained. Or try to account for the large number 

 of plants often found crowned in the same field. 



V. Plants found growing without cultivation within 



the city limits; account for their presence ; note 

 whether they are transient, or appear from year 

 to year. 



VI. Make a study of the many parasites found on 

 plants. (With these microscopes should be used). 



VII. Make comparative studies of buds, roots, leaves, 

 bark, le'af-scars, pith, etc. ; get many specimens 

 to compare form, size, structure ; see how similar 

 functions are performed in very different ways, 

 or how similar organs have very different offices ; 

 e.g., see how climbing may be accomplished in one 

 plant by twining, in another by tendrils, a third 

 by rootlets, a fourth by hooks, etc., or learn how 

 one tree may have its buds protected by scales, 

 another by wool, a third by varnish, etc. 



VIII. Collect and study different kinds of wood; qual- 

 ity, color, uses, structure, etc. Make sections and 

 study with the microscope ; note the difference 

 between heart wood and sap wood, or between 

 roots and branches, or the nature of woody 

 climbing plants. 



IX. Make drawing from nature a specialty ; buds and 

 branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, entire 

 plants. 



X. Trees; their appearance in winter and in summer ; 



their foliage, mode of branching, habitats, etc. 

 Note localities where fine specimens occur, take 

 measures ; learn to distinguish them by their 



