676 Junior Naturalist Monthly. 



colonies beginning to start up now at this season. It would be interesting 

 to make a note of the plants growing in a certain neglected place in the 

 month of May ; to ask your teacher to keep this record ; to make another 

 in October when you go back to school and then to compare the two. 

 Boys and girls who live in rural districts will find this an easy subject 

 to work up for a prize. 



8. Insects — Harmful and useful. A careful study of any insect in 

 all the stages of its growth is very interesting. Eggs of butterflies and 

 moths may be discovered on the leaves of trees and weeds and cultivated 

 plants. The caterpillars which hatch may be kept in an insect cage and 

 fed on fresh leaves of the plant on which they are found till the pupse 

 are formed and the butterflies or moths appear. Or the life of a bee or 

 a wasp may be studied. Tell all the points you observe, and the part 

 you cannot understand. 



9. JVhat farm crop most interested you during the summer? Tell 

 to what extent the crop is grown in your vicinity. Has the crop been 

 newly introduced, like alfalfa ? Tell how it is planted ; cultivated ; har- 

 vested ; whether it has any strong enemies or diseases which must be 

 fought ; with what remedies ; how it is prepared for market. Does it 

 help to feed or clothe persons? 



The prize letter on farm crops last year was written on the potato 

 and was very excellent indeed. The writer showed that he had really 

 studied his subject and we were well pleased with his letter. You see 

 what a wide range of subjects you will have to choose from if you live 

 in the country. 



10. JVliat you liave done to interest others in nature-study. In what 

 way have you tried to help others to see the wonders found in common 

 things? If you have learned something new about a flower or wood-folk 

 of any kind, teach someone else what you have learned and tell us the 

 circumstances. If you have learned to know trees, why not teach someone 

 who does not know them ? It may be that you have learned about some 

 of the insect pests such as the Peach borer or Tussock moth. Do other 

 boys and girls in your vicinity know these insects and how much harm 

 they do? Why not help your neighbors to get rid of them? You will 

 not only be helping otlu'rs but also yourself. 



