466 



HoMio Nature-Study Course. 



Observations. — Compare the stem with that of the China aster or 

 marigold or any stiff stemmed plant to show that while the pea stem is 

 strong, it is not sufficiently rigid to hold the blossoms up. Is the stem 

 round or angular, solid or hollow? Is it rough or smooth? Does it 

 break readily? Note the broad wing or ribbon-like growth which ex- 

 tends almost the whole length of each side of the stem. Owing to 

 the fact that so many of the pea leaves are changed to tendrils, there 

 is comparatively little leaf surface and undoubtedly the wings of the stem 

 act as leaves in manufacturing starch and thus eke out leaf surface. 



LESSON XXIX. 



THE FRUIT OF THE SWEET PEA. 



Purpose. — To have the pupils observe the peculiar way the pods 

 open and the seeds are scattered. 



This should be a study of the sweet 

 pea vines during the last of September 

 or the first of October, and should be 

 field work on the part of the pupils. 

 As the sweet pea ripens, all the mois- 

 ture is lost and it becomes dry and 

 hard, and through the dampness of 

 the dews at night and the sun's heat 

 which warps it by day, each side of 

 the pod suddenly coils into a spiral, 

 flinging the seed many feet away in 

 IIozv the sivccl pea scatters its seeds, different directions as it twists. 



THE NASTURTIUM. 

 LESSON XXX. 



Preliminary Work. — Perhaps the man}' shades of gorgeous colors displayed by 

 these flowers, as well as the peculiarities of the leaves give the teacher a chance 

 to get the pupils especially interested in this plant. The matching of the shades 

 of color and variations may be the beginning to get the child to think more closely 

 of the flower as a whole ; then the lessons will follow. 



Purpose. — To set the child to noticing how the nasturtium flower is 

 colored and formed. 



Material. — A nasturtium flower for each pupil. 



Observations: Color. — The different colors found in a single flower. 

 How these colors are placed upon the petals. Note the stripes on the 



