94 NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



Let this be a writing lesson, giving it to the class with- 

 out warning and encouraging each one to write honestly 

 just as he may feel. If any do not like flowers, encourage 

 them to state the fact and give the reasons, as far as they 

 can, for their feelings. 



Next make a composition lesson on what the children 

 know about cultivating flowers. Ask them to write about 

 their own doings in this line. What flowers have they 

 raised ? How did they succeed ? Let them describe the 

 seeds, and tell how they planted and cared for them. 

 Those who have done nothing of the kind may have to 

 be provided with a routine writing lesson for this period. 

 But from these lessons you may gather the lines of interest 

 that the children have already begun to develop. 



Have a package of seeds, if possible of the flower that 

 most of the children like best, and ask how many would 

 like to take some seeds and see who can raise the best 

 plant. Distribute an equal number of seeds to as many 

 as wish to undertake the work, and give a simple lesson 

 and demonstration on the preparation of soil and best way 

 to plant. This should be done some time in March, so 

 that the plants may be well grown and in fine bloom for 

 the flower show at the end of the spring term. The seeds 

 should be planted and reared at home, each child promis- 

 ing to do all the work himself, to take the sole care of 

 his plant, and to bring in his result, whatever that may be, 

 at the end of the term. 



It will be better for many reasons, for the independence 

 and ingenuity of the children and to preserve the impar- 

 tiality of the teacher, if the children be given to under- 

 stand that each must find out for himself, from books or 



