THE LEAF. 



29 



OBLIQUE'. With one side of the base larger and 

 lower than the other. Fig. 30. 



TAPERING. Where the blade tapers off at the 

 base. Fig. 31. 



FIG. 32. 



FIG. 33. 



FIG. 34 



CLASPING. "Where the base folds around the stem 

 of the plant. Fig. 32. 



CONNATE'. Where the bases of two leaves grow 

 together around the plant-stem, as in Fig. 33. 



DECUB'RENT. Where the lower part of the mid- 

 rib grows to the plant-stem, as in Fig. 34. 



XOTE. Children will, of course, get leaves from the same 

 plants, and describe them over and over again as they pass on 

 from schedule to schedule. A few plants will ohtrude them- 

 selves upon the attention, and each day the pupil will gather 

 leaves from these alone. At first they will have very little 

 enterprise in searching for new specimens, but will be con- 

 tent with whatever is easiest. These will serve perhaps as 

 well as any to illustrate the new character brought out by 

 the new schedule, but the repetition of old observations upon 

 them will require but little effort of the attention. This repe- 

 tition of observations upon the same varieties of leaves is 

 proper and desirable, but not sufficient for our purpose. As the 

 wealth of varied forms that plants present is to be our means 

 of educating the observation, it is indispensable that our re- 



