No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 313 



individually observe the plaut out of doors in its home, fiud and 

 report where it grows, how high it grow«, how it lifts its bright 

 flowers up above the leaves, while the modest dainty blossoms of the 

 mallow hide below the leaves. Look for seeds, and see how Mother 

 Buttercup protects her baby leaves and llowers. In the preparatory 

 lesson the teacher may give the children the thought, "The buttercup 

 catches the sun in its cup," and centre her w'ork about this. Get the 

 ideas of the children as to the meaning of the name "buttercup," and 

 have them tell how the buttercup helps them to discover whether 

 boys and girls like butter. 



They may have observed that when it is found in fields and pas- 

 ture the cattle and horses eat the grass all around it, but rarely if 

 ever disturb this plant. AVhy ? If the children taste of it (somewhat 

 cautiously, as it has a decided "bite"), they will discover one way in 

 which Mother Nature protects her children. 



The cattle learn that the buttercup is not to be trifled with and 

 better left alone. Some of the sharper eyes of the class may have 

 discovered another of its secrets, the fact that the long stems of the 

 older leaves are enlarged, split open, and hollowed out at the base, 

 making the snuggest kind of a cradle for the tiny leaves and flowers. 

 In the fall this is more difllcult to discover than in the spring, as 

 nearly all of the leaves and flow-ers have developed. Show them 

 how the roots hold fast to the ground and absorb water and food. 

 That the work of the stems is to lift up the flow^ers and seeds, and 

 to carry to them water and food. Notice the many branches to lift 

 each flower where we can see it. 



Show them how much richer is the yellow of the flower when there 

 are green leaves near it and how much prettier the flowers look w'hen 

 hanging loosely and separated than when all in a cluster. Describe 

 the leaves, and impress their form upon their mind© by having the 

 pupils compare them with the five fingers of the hand. 



Let us make the children feel that the buttercup flow^ers are the 

 golden cups from which the fairies take their favorite drink — dew 

 and honey. Also read to them the beautiful lines of James Russell 

 Lowell: 



"Oh where do you come from, bright flowers and fair. 

 That please with your colors and fragrance so rare; 

 Glowing in sunshine, or sparkling with dew? 

 'We are blooming for dear little children like you.' " 



Can not we begin our study of the flowers by putting and fasten- 

 ing in the hearts of the boys and girls thoughts like these? If they 

 get and keep the idea that buttercups are fairy cups painted by the 

 sun, or made of gold carried by the sunbeams straight from the 

 golden sun, and that the flowers are here to bring happiness to boys 

 and girls, and to men and women, will they be apt to pass them by 



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