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THE NATURE-STUDY RE J 'IE IV 



[2 : 5 — May, 1906 



but simply an attempt to find out what common names were in the pupils' 

 memory and recalled within thirty minutes. Considering that most of the 

 children came from homes where there can be little contract with nature, the 

 results given below were doubly interesting to me and to others who read 

 them. 



Names of trees known: one pupil knew 5, one 17, average for 16 

 children 9. Names of wild flowers: one pupil 4, one 15, average 8. 

 Names of cultivated plants: one 3, one 15, average 10. 



Twenty- six species of trees were named; the best known being oak 

 (14 pupils), pear (13), maple (14), peach (12), apple (14), cherry (16). 



Twentv-eight species of wild flowers; the best known being daisy (15)9 

 violet (14), dandelion (12), wild rose (iq), butter-cup (8), jack-in-pulpit 

 (10). 



Thirty-one cultivated plants; the best known being pansy (14), geranium 

 (13), lilac (13), cactus (9), morning glory (12), forget-me-not (9). 

 Dept. of Nature-Study, Grace L. Morrison. 



Teachers College, 



Columbia University. 



NATURE NOTES 



Telephoning at Sea. Ocean liners may now be warned of a dangerous 

 coast bv telephone. A submerged bell located on a rock or other point of 

 danger sends its sound through the water to the ship's hull where it is received. 

 Attached to the inner plating of the vessel is a microphone contained in a tank 

 of liquid. By means of a telephone placed in circuit with the microphone, 

 signals have been received on board ship from a ringing bell eight miles distant. 

 To dissipate local noises on the steamer some liquid heavier than water is used, 

 as brine. Several large vessels of the German, British, and American lines 

 have already adopted the system. (March Forum) 



Steel from Sand. Dr. David Gray, a government expert, has shown 

 that good steel can be made from a common black sand found on the Pacific 

 Coast, and some samples of the sand have produced six hundred and forty-four 

 pounds of magnetic iron to the ton. Among other minerals he has found 

 gold and tantalum. The latter substance he expects to see in use as a 

 filament material for incandescent lights, as it is capable of producing twice 



