n 8 Lessons in Nature Study. 



46. Wash a root. Does a root taste like the stalk? 



47. Taste a bit of the woody part of the stem at the base 

 of the leaves. Does it taste like the other parts ? 



48. Find the small leaf at the centre of the bunch. How 

 does it compare with the others in size, color, taste, smell ? 



49. How are t,he little leaves in the centre folded ? 

 Plicate. 



50. Yes ; they are folded almost like a little fan. See how 

 nicely they are packed away. The old mother celery-plant 

 has no room to spare, so she packs the little leaves tightly 

 in the middle. 



51. Some day we will play the game of celery. We will 

 let Harry keep store and sell it to us. Nelly will buy three 

 bunches, and we will have some celery soup, some salad, 

 etc. 



In Fig. 32 the thin slice of stem is magnified about 20 

 diameters. The central cavity and threads (vascular 

 bundles) are also seen. The skin of the stem is seen to be 

 built up of cells close together, while the cells inside are 

 larger and irregularly hexagonal in shape. If this figure be 

 given at all, it should be only briefly treated There is 

 plenty which the children can see with the unaided eye 

 without giving them the minute structure of any organism. 



It is suggested that the teacher go over the foregoing 

 lesson alone before presenting it to the class. Bring out 

 why the long strings run up through the leaves. It makes 

 the stems more elastic. It gives them a sort of internal 

 skeleton. 



Other vegetable forms which may be presented in this 

 way are asparagus, rhubarb, lettuce, and the common sucu- 

 lent weeds, i.e., plantain, burdock, and yellow dock, and 

 water-lily stem, Jack-in-the-pulpit, skunk-cabbage (?), etc. 



One of the beauties of a lesson on celery is the fact that 

 after the lesson is over the children may be allowed to eat 

 up the remains. 



I have seen children do work like this in second primary 

 classes. 



