BEAL ON THE STUDY OF BOTANY. 107 



the AYork, like that of a recitation is credited or equivalent to two or 

 tbreo or more good or poor recitations. 



I have uniformly found that students took an unusual interest in this 

 plan. For numerous suitable* topics, consult The New Botany, noticed 

 elsewhere. 



Frequently an opportunity arrives for advertising the members of a 

 class a little. I consider the time well spent, provided the preparation 

 is all in line with the legitimate work of the class during that term. 



Some of the teachers may be interested in a plan which I tried in 18SG. 

 In ^Michigan we have a thrifty State Horticultural Society that holds 

 meetings in dilTerent parts of the State, thus performing missionary 

 service. A meeting was to be held near the college with which I am 

 <'onnected. College was in session. I thought to stimulate the students 

 of a certain class and interest the members of the society. 



Seventeen young persons gave three-minute talks to the horticulturists 

 upon topics which they had been studying by the aid of the compound 

 microscope. The subjects of the talks given were as follows: 



1. Structure of a leaf. 



2. The mouths of a leaf, 



3. Young hairs of a leaf. 



4. Sting of a nettle. 



5. Talking about and showing drawings of protoplasm in motion. 



6. Palisade cells in a leaf. 



7. Starch of common and wild potato from Arizona compared., 



8. The frame work of a leaf. 



9. Fibers of cotton, flax, silk and wool compared. 



10. Why nuts are hard. 



11. Tough and brittle white ash compared as seen magnified. 



12. Structure of a grain of wheat. 



13. Pollen and its growth. 



14. Quince rust, 



15. Corn smut. 



16. A study of common bread mold. 



17. Effect of severe cold or heat on the cells and their contents. 



The secretary reported, ''The drawings were admirably executed, and 

 on the whole the entire exercise was as interesting as anything ever 

 presented to the society." 



The illustrations were copied and with the text appeared in the report 

 of the society in 188G, which gratified the students and probably did 

 them no harm. 



Some of you may find occasion where a short exercise illustrated and 

 presented by a class, each saying a little, will attract much greater 

 interest than where only one or a very few speak longer; and no doubt 

 some of you may have already tried this plan. 



Mr. Chairman (Xewcombe), I am pleased to see you carrying out this 

 plan, where you avail yourself of an opportunity to advertise the stu- 



