480 Home Naturf.-Studv Course. 



On the first pleasant Friday afternoon of your coming term of school 

 I would have }0u take your pupils out fur a walk. You may call it a 

 field excursion, if that term sounds any better. Tell them that you are 

 in search of 



A Mill Where Stone Flour is Made. 



By the way, how many people know the process of soil-making? 

 How many know the life history of the clods which will some day fill the 

 graves that hold their bodies and that, too, people who have a record for 

 scholarship? 



In choosing your path for the afternoon walk, take one leading to the 

 nearest brook. There you will find the water flowing in ripples and 

 eddies. The children can determine the difference in the swiftness in 

 flow of water by tossing chips and dry leaves on its surface. The reason 

 why they travel faster over the ripples than the eddies is the same that 

 makes a sled go down a steep hill faster than on a road which is nearly 

 level — the steeper the hill the faster the sled runs. The water also is 

 more shallow and makes more noise in the ripples, hence the proverb 

 that " Still waters run deep." Examine some of the stones in the ripples 

 and see how the edges are rounded. They became so by bumping against 

 each other in their travels. Stones with rounded, smooth edges and sides 

 have been great travelers. Many have come long distances and all have 

 been on their journey a long time. Stones with sharp edges are stay- 

 at-homes. They are not far from the spot of their origin 



If the day be a warm one the youngsters will enjoy taking ofif their 

 shoes and stockings and wading in the brook. Put some stones in an 

 empty stocking, lift the leg and let the stones roll towards the toes and 

 then lift the toe and let the stones roll back again. If this process be 

 continued long enough the stocking will stand in need of darning. The 

 children will understand what your illustration stands for without carry- 

 ing the demonstration that far. The stones while in the stocking may 

 also wear off to some extent, but the amount will be so small that only 

 the most delicate scale would show it. Why did the stocking wear most? 

 Because the stones were harder. 



Hoic Soil Goes S-a'iimiiiiii^ and Takes a Journey. 



After a while the stone particles arc so small that the tiny pieces 

 swim when the water has any motion. When there are a large number 

 taking a swim we say the wat.T is roilw An interesting demonstration 

 may be given the children 1)\- filling a tumbler with roily water and when 

 the water has evaporated, examine the grit on the sides and l)ottom of 

 the glass. It is this fine stuff that lu'lps to make the inorganic part of 

 soil. The amount of grit that may be found in a tumbler may not be 



