130 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [ 2 : 4 -aprii., 1906 



this year with a great deal of interest and increase in numbers. 

 There are twenty-one members in the class, three men and eighteen, 

 women. The public schools of Ithaca are used as laboratories for 

 this work. In some instances, the students take charge, of nature- 

 study in an entire building; in other cases, inexperienced teachers 

 are given a single class or the opportunity to work with some one 

 who has pedagogical knowledge and experience. Each student is 

 practically free to work out his ideas The success of his work is 

 measured by results and it is the purpose to give originality an oppor- 

 tunity to develop. 



As yet, no permanent grounds have been secured for school-gar- 

 dens in Ithaca ("although temporary quarters are in use), but the work 

 in childrens' gardens was carried on with success last spring, and 

 increased interest and activity are expected during this year. 



MACDONALD INSTITUTE, GUELPH, CANADA 



The Department of Nature-Study under Professor S. B. McCready, 

 with the cooperation of Professor Lochhead of the Ontario Agricul- 

 tural College, aims especially to prepare teachers to take up nature- 

 study with their pupils, in connection with a school-garden, and to 

 deal with die simpler aspects of general nature-study. It is open to 

 actual teachers. 



OUTLINE OF THREE MONTHS' COURSE 



School Gardens. Planning and keeping of school garden plots; keeping of 

 garden records; studies of growths in different plants; control of weeds, insects, 

 etc. 



Agriculture. Study of experimental plots and farm crops; excursions to 

 Poultry, Horticultural and Dairy Departments. 



Botany. Ecology of plants, including buds, fruit spurs, etc., study of trees 

 and plant societies; identification of flowering plants, grasses, weeds, etc.; 

 physiology of plants; collections. 



Zoology. Ecology of insects; excursions for study of birds, mammals, and 

 other common animals; pond life; collections. 



Geography. Study of the surface of the land, an introduction to geography 

 and geology. 



Geology. Excursions for the study of soils, rocks, minerals, and land forms; 

 operation of dynamic agencies, such as rain, frost, rivers, winds, etc. 



Weather and Climate. Weather observations, weather maps, and the climate 

 of Canada. 



Astronomy. Elementary work; movement of heavenly bodies; constellations. 



