4 
oped, and that they will be inspired with a lifelong interest in 
nature. The child’s mind is peculiarly alive to the charm of nature 
when she is studied in detail, and through her it can be trained to 
observe accurately and to reason Jogically. 
Through the neglect of nature study, the wits of the country child 
lose just the sharpening they most need, to say nothing of a stim- 
ulus and delight which can ill be spared by one whose mental life is 
apt to be monotonous. 
' The wits of the city child may secure in other ways the sharpening 
so essential to success in life; yet the training afforded by a logical 
study of plants, and the pleasure: which such a study, rightly 
directed, is sure to yield, are as invaluable to him as to his country 
cousin. 
Experience having proved to my keenest satisfaction that almost 
invariably children can be interested in stories of plants and ¢heer 
children, to the children of the land I offer this little book, in the 
earnest hope that its pages may lead at least some few of them tc 
find in life a new joy and a deeper meaning. 
The aid derived from many sources in the preparation of “ Plants 
and their Children” is heartily acknowledged; but more especially 
I wish to extend my thanks to Messrs. Holt & Co. for their courtesy 
in allowing the reproduction of several cuts from their valuable and 
interesting publication, “ The Natural History of Plants,” translated 
from the German of Kerner von Marilaun. 
