XIV SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS. 



This operation is constantly repeated upon varying forms, 

 and slowly extended by the addition of new characters. He 

 thus goes on discovering new parts and acquiring their names 

 noting the variations of these parts and the names of their 

 variations. The schedules guide him forward in the right 

 direction, and hold him steadily to the essential work of ex- 

 ercising his faculties upon the living objects before him. In 

 every fresh collection of plants, new parts and new relations 

 will solicit the attention, and will have to be observed, com- 

 pared, and recorded. Particular kinds of plants, let it be 

 remembered, are not described in the look they are not even 

 named ; the object is, by constant practice and repetition, to 

 train the pupil to find out the characters of any that come 

 in his way, and make his own descriptions. 



An acquaintance with Botany, although of course de- 

 sirable, is not indispensable in using these exercises. Any 

 teacher or parent who is willing to take the necessary pains can 

 conduct the children through them without difficulty ; and if 

 they will become fellow-students with them all the better. The 

 child is not so much to be taught, as to instruct himself. The 

 very essence of the plan is, that he is to make his own way, 

 and rely on nobody else ; it is intended for self- development. 

 Mistakes will, of course, be made ; but the whole method is 

 self -correcting, and the pupil, as he goes forward, will be con- 

 stantly rectifying his past errors. The object is less to get 

 perfect results at first than to get the pupil's opinion upon the 

 basis of his own observations. 



Children can begin to study plants successfully by this 

 method at six or seven years of age, or as soon as they can 

 write. But close observations should not be required from 

 young beginners, nor the exercises be prolonged to weariness. 

 The transition from the unconscious and spontaneous observa- 

 tions of children to conscious observation with a definite pur- 

 pose should be gradual, beginning and continuing for some 

 time with the easiest exercises upon the most simple and obvi- 

 ous characters. 



