THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION 



Si 



given to plant physiology for which 

 purpose the use of a high power micro- 

 scope has been secured. 



Sowing of Seals and transplanting. 

 Considerable interest is being taken in 

 bringing within easy reach a greater 

 variety of plants and trees so that sev- 

 eral species have been transplanted 

 and the seeds of others secured 



Normal work. As a means of still 

 further developing personal interest, 

 as well as for the spread of nature 

 study, several groups of boys have 

 been organized in the various churches. 

 Each group, under the leadership of 

 one or more of our members, spends a 

 large portion of their Saturdays 

 on tramps, and trolley trips, thereby 

 introducing the lads to this interesting 

 and profitable hobby. 



Report of "Park Life" Chapter. 



BY ROBERT E. YOUNG, JR., SECRETARY, 



DUBUQUE, IOWA. 



(Continued from last month.) 



Under the painstaking direction of 

 Doctor Bigelow, for whom we all have 

 the highest regard, the lowlands and 

 the uplands were studied. Pictures of 

 the denizens of these places were beau- 

 tifully shown on the stereopticon 

 screen, while the boys lounged on 

 Mother Earth herself, (and yet none 

 caught "cold" from it). The stars and 

 the heavens were studied from the 

 Mississippi's high bluffs, while learned 

 men told us how- reverently the 

 ancients regarded these glories of the 

 Creator, and some of the old spirit was 

 infused into us. The boys lay flat on 

 their backs, next to old earth, and 

 gazed upward with awe. 



Doctor Bigelow also instructed us 

 about bees. If all "Park Life" was not 

 interested in his talks, and in the ex- 

 hibition hive that he had with him, it 

 was not the sneaker's fault. Before he 

 spoke we all had an aversion to the 

 bee, because of his sting; after, the 

 smallest boy would allow dozens of 

 the little animals to be shaken into his 

 hand, for with knowledge comes con- 

 fidence. 



Agriculture in many of its phases 

 was explained. For could we not go 

 into the garden and verify the speak- 



er's statements. We can now with 

 confidence care for corn, -rains and 

 garden truck, for do we not even know 

 the enemies that attack them. We do. 

 We have; seen them. 



In conclusion let me mention our 

 visit to the State Fish Hatcheries, at 

 Spring Brook, Iowa, some forty-five 

 miles from Dubuque. This was one 

 of our most interesting excursions. It 

 was a delightful treat to be taken 

 through the cool tank-rooms, and to 

 witness the progress of the fish from 

 the tiny egg to the mature and beauti- 

 ful water dwellers themselves. Many 

 of the boys declared that their great- 

 est desire was to fish in a stream full 

 of trout such as we saw there. 



Many men of national reputation 

 addressed us, and every member is 

 grateful to Professor Horchem for 

 taking us into this great movement ; 

 and now that we are members of The 

 Agassiz Association we look forward 

 to still happier experiences with that 

 association. 



Laboratory Course in Elementary 

 Botany. 



WITH 125 ILLUSTRATIVE SPECIMENS. 



Correspondence courses in botany have 

 been carried on at intervals for the Agas- 

 siz Association by the present instructor 

 since the winter of 1889, and have been 

 taken advantage of by students from all 

 sections of the Linked States. 



The present course is based upon the 

 earlier ones in method, but is more elab- 

 orate, and is designed not only to supply 

 a good working basis of botanical knowl- 

 edge for individual students, but in addi- 

 tion, to prepare those who intend to 

 teach. It is also adapted to persons of 

 all ages who wish to become more famil- 

 iar with common wild flowers and ferns, 

 and to know something of their varied 

 forms, relationships, and life histories. 



The method of the course is to lead the 

 student to see and think for himself. To 

 this end, the text matter is reduced to the 

 smallest compass practicable, and the lab- 

 oratory work with the plants is corres- 

 pondingly increased. Thus are combined 

 the advantages of individual investiga- 

 tion and the check of personal instruc- 

 tion. 



