The Growing of Plants 8i 



when I returned the plant was dead; and 



I missed It. 



Although my little plant had died so 



soon, it had taught me a lesson; and the 



lesson is that it is worth while to have a 



plant. 

 Provide some little means of growing plants, 

 not only to teach how to grow plants them- 

 selves, but to instruct the child the care of things, 

 to show that other beings besides itself have 

 vicissitudes and lives of their own, and to im- 

 plant the germ of altruism — the interest In 

 something outside of oneself. These means of 

 growing plants should be simple. A pot, a box 

 or a hotbed may be sufficient. Every child 

 should have the handling of at least one plant 

 during the period of childhood. One plant 

 cannot be handled without leaving an impres- 

 sion on the life. 



The love of plants should be Inculcated In the 

 school. It can usually be better done in school 

 than at home, particularly v/hen one or both 

 of the parents Is opposed to It and constantly 



discourages the child. Even when the parents 

 6 



