The Growing of Plants 81 



when I returned the plant was dead; and 



I missed it. 



Although my little plant had died so 



soon, it had taught me a lesson; and the 



lesson is that it is worth while to have a 



plant. 



Provide some little means of growing plants, 

 not only to teach how to grow plants them- 

 selves, but to instruct the child in the care of 

 things, to show that other beings besides itself 

 have vicissitudes and^lives of their own, and to 

 implant the germ of altruism the interest in 

 something outside of oneself. These means of 

 growing plants should be simple. A pot, a box 

 or a hotbed may be sufficient. Every child 

 should have the handling of at least one plant 

 during the period of childhood. One plant 

 cannot be handled without leaving an impres- 

 sion on the life. 



The love of plants should be inculcated in the 

 school. It can usually be better done in school 

 than at home, particularly when one or both 

 of the parents is opposed to it and constantly 

 discourages the child. Even when the parents 



6 



