PREFACE 



book is to help children to study Nature, not 

 J- to put book study instead of Nature Study. The 

 object of the book is to direct and stimulate both 

 observation and reflection. 



Many teachers have lately found in trees a convenient 

 topic for lessons, one that can be pursued in town or 

 country, summer or winter, indoors or out-of-doors. 

 There may be other teachers who would gladly give 

 their pupils some training in Nature Study, although 

 they themselves do not pretend to have special know- 

 ledge. Such an acknowledgment of ignorance is itself 

 a qualification for one who, an enquirer himself, would 

 lead others to enquire. 



The use of this book will be found greatly simplified 

 by its arrangement into 24 lessons, each complete with 

 its own practical work. In setting additional questions, 

 it should be remembered that children are apt to 

 answer observation questions correctly without using 

 their brains more than they can help. The questions 

 therefore, should be framed so as to evoke thought as 

 well as observation. 



Great pains have been taken in the revision of these 

 chapters to fit them into the natural cycle of the 

 seasons, which is now widely accepted as the best order 

 for nature lessons, and is, indeed, the compulsory order 



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