384 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of getting plants in proper condition, the only portion given was 

 that on the cotton plants. Fine specimens of these were received 

 from Georgia, which kept fresh nearly two weeks, and showed all 

 stages, from flower bud to open boll of cotton fiber. No work in 

 zoology was done, save the giving of a few lessons on silk-worms 

 and sheep, as yielding silk and wool. In physiology, lessons were 

 given on the general parts of the body : on the joints, skin, hair, 

 nails, and teeth ; on the chest, and the process of breathing and its 

 products ; on food and digestion — all with reference to the care of 

 the body, keeping the lungs from disease, and the true object of 

 taking food. Geography was connected with science, history, 

 and literature — the original habitat and migrations of rocks and 

 plants, and the location of events leading to imaginary journeys. 

 The forms of water and land, and a demonstration of the shape 

 of the earth by the positions and appearances of vessels at sea, 

 were gained in lessons to the country and the sea-shore. Boston 

 and its surrounding townships were studied in connection with 

 lessons in local history. Maps, globes, compass, and modeling 

 clay were used throughout the course. 



While the work in mathematics was not so fully developed on 

 new lines as in other subjects, some work done in the first year 

 may be of interest to the reader. In a field lesson of the second 

 week, some distinguishing features of the apple, beech, pitch and 

 white pine trees were noted and branches obtained. These 

 branches furnished material for many days' number lessons. Ap- 

 ple leaves with their two stipules, pitch-pine sheaths with their three 

 needles, beechnut exocarps with their four sections, and white 

 pine sheaths with their five needles, were used by the children in 

 constructing concrete number tables, which — picking up the ob- 

 jects — they recited as follows : " In one sheath of white pine are 

 five needles ; in two sheaths of white pine are two times five nee- 

 dles," etc. When the concrete table was familiar, the same num- 

 ber relations were written on the blackboard with figures and 

 symbols. In this manner the children learned the four classes of 

 tables as far as sixes. Meanwhile the study of geometrical forms 

 and the plant lessons gave illustration and review. In January 

 work with money was begun, and continued through the remainder 

 of the year ; but other opportunities to give practice in number 

 were utilized — as, the six faces of the halite crystal, the six stamens 

 of the tulip, etc. To get unworn coins we sent to the Philadelphia 

 Mint. In two lessons the children learned the names and values 

 of one copper, two nickel, four silver, and six gold pieces ; in the 

 third, by placing piles of coin side by side, they constructed and 

 learned the table : 



Two silver half dollars equal one gold or silver dollar. 



Four silver quarter dollars equal one gold or silver dollar. 



