73° 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



making. Having obtained permission to tap twenty maples in Beech- 

 wood, we bought the outfit and went to work. The first morning we 

 tapped the trees, the boys being taught how to select the best trees and 

 how best to tap them. The reasons for each step were elicited or 

 suggested, science and practise going hand in hand. It was great fun 

 for the boys to watch the sap dropping into the cans, and to see whose 

 cans filled first — proving their owners to have made the best choice of 

 trees or managed the tapping best. 



A couple of days later, having on hand a couple of barrels of sap 

 or its product in syrup, we went to the woods to sugar off. First we 

 made taffy by pouring the thick syrup on the snow. Then we boiled 

 the rest down into sugar to take home. The boys in the illustration 

 are enjoying the fruits of their labors in the shape of taffy. 



Geologizing on Pink Island. 



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After each of these occupations of surveying and sugar-making 

 which I have described, and after considerable discussion of the same, 

 the boys wrote compositions on ' Beechwood ' or ' A Valuation Survey 

 of Beechwood ' and on ' The Maple ' or ' Sugar-making.' A boy can 

 write to some purpose after such an experience. 



Throughout the spring the study of reviving nature was a never- 

 failing source of delight. The boys took the keenest interest in the 

 return of the birds, the unfolding of leaf and flower, the awakening 

 of frog and snake, squirrel, snail, butterfly and humble-bee. We set 

 up our aquaria and vivaria afresh. We observed the birds in their 

 busy occupations of feeding and nesting. We sketched them in their, 

 characteristic attitudes; and learned to distinguish their varied notes 

 and songs. We looked eagerly for the first flowers of spring, the gay 

 hepaticas and sweet Mayflowers or trailing arbutus, and we observed 



