CHAPTER X 



PLANT STUDY 1 



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 Nature study is an attempt to place the child, through 



iterest, in intelligent touch with the natural objects and 

 >rocesses which surround him. It turns to practical use 



le restless spirit of investigation which is so characteristic 

 of healthy childhood. This innate curiosity that marks the 

 child mind is the natural, wide-open door through which 

 multitudes of little experiences reach their places in the 

 storehouse of knowledge. It is the province of nature 

 study to direct and develop this form of interest; to guide 

 the child to correct solutions for the many problems that 

 arise in his actively growing mind, and thus help him in 

 securing an education that is both liberal and practical. 



Thus far the tendency has been toward plant and animal 

 study; but, while these subjects are admirably adapted to 

 the work, every course is enriched and interest is better 

 sustained by including lessons on air, water, evaporation 

 and condensation, steam, air and water currents, light, heat, 

 sound, electricity, minerals, including the useful metals, 

 soils and soil formation, and other topics. Plant study has 

 already taken the eminently practical form of school gar- 

 dens. In these the elements of plant physiology, soils and 

 other plant foods, preparation and cultivation of the soil, 



1 The chapter on Nature Study is written by Mr. Edward Hughes, 

 Supervisor of Nature Study in the Stockton city schools and Prin- 

 cipal of the El Dorado Grammar School. 



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