PREFACE 5 



Fourth: to teach the pupil to draw reasonable conclusions 

 from his own or reported observations. 



The accomplishment of these things is a valuable asset 

 to the pupil, whatever work he undertakes in the future. 



Another object of this book is to show the future citizens 

 of this country the wide range of scientific work done by the 

 government, not only for the education of its people, but for 

 their material welfare. The work of the Weather Bureau, 

 the Naval Observatory, the Geological Survey, and the 

 Divisions of Forestry and of Plant Industry, are all brought 

 to the attention of the pupil, and material furnished by these 

 departments is used. 



The planning of this course was the work of five teachers 

 of experience in a large high school. Prior to the publication 

 of the textbook, the plan was followed for four years by 

 teachers, experienced and inexperienced, with great success, 

 if we may judge by the work of the pupils and by the number 

 who have continued the study of science after the first year 

 course. 



The author makes grateful acknowledgment to many 

 friends who have assisted in the preparation of this book: 

 first of all, to her principal, Mr. Clement C. Hyde, and her 

 associate teachers in the science department of the Hartford 

 Public High School, for their unfailing consideration and 

 encouragement while she was doing the double work of teach- 

 ing and developing this course in General Science; to her 

 former teacher, Professor William North Rice, of Wesleyan 

 University, Middletown, Conn., for wise counsel on many 

 subjects; and to Professors Edward L. Rice and Lewis G. 

 Westgate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Miss Elisabeth W. 

 Stone, and Mr. David G. Smyth of Hartford, who have read 

 and criticized portions of the manuscript. For illustrations, 

 grateful acknowledgment is made to Professor David P. 

 Todd of Amherst, Mass., to Dr. Henry Fairfield Osborn of 

 the American Museum of Natural History, to Professor 



