72 The Nature-Study Idea 



sires and capabilities of the teacher; (2) on the 

 place in which the school is — whether city or 

 country, North or South, prairie or mountain — 

 for it is important that the subject be common 

 and have relation to the experiences of the 

 pupils; (3) on the desires of the pupils, par- 

 ticularly if they are to do the collecting; (4) 

 on the time of the year. 



Whenever possible, let the pupil first come 

 Into cognizance of the plant as a whole. It is 

 well to choose one species that is common and 

 familiar; then endeavor to determine where it 

 grows, why it grows there, how it is modified in 

 different circumstances. If it is a dandelion, 

 one lesson may be devoted to dandelions in 

 the school-yard; another to dandelions in the 

 meadow ; another to dandelions along hard and 

 dry roadsides; another to dandelions in rich 

 farmyards and gardens; another to dandelions 

 In the borders of woodlands. Compare the 

 relative abundance of dandelions in these dif- 

 ferent places: why? Do the plants *'look" the 

 same In these different places: how differ and 

 why? (Note the size and form of plants, rela- 



