72 The Nature-Study Idea 



sires and capabilities of the teacher; (2) on the 

 place in which the school is whether city or 

 country, North or South, prairie or mountain 

 for it is important that the subject be common 

 and have relation to the experiences of the 

 pupils; (3) on the desires of the pupils, par- 

 ticularly if they are to do the collecting; (4) 

 on the time of the year. 



Whenever possible, let the pupil first come 

 into cognizance of the plant as a whole. It is 

 well to choose one species that is common and 

 familiar; then endeavor to determine where it 

 grows, why it grows there, how it is modified in 

 different circumstances. If it is a dandelion, 

 one lesson may be devoted to dandelions in 

 the school-yard; another to dandelions in the 

 meadow; another to dandelions along hard and 

 dry roadsides; another to dandelions in rich 

 farmyards and gardens; another to dandelions 

 in the borders of woodlands. Compare the 

 relative abundance of dandelions in these dif- 

 ferent places: why? Do the plants "look" the 

 same in these different places: how differ and 

 why? (Note the size and form of plants, rela- 



