AN OUTDOOR LESSON ON TREES 237 



with a character quite its own. At httle distance you 

 may see them grouped together, subordinating their individ- 

 uality and helping to blend into a beautiful composition 

 with a character all its own. There is nothing more inspir- 

 ing than the variety of greens in the spring foliage, the 

 diversity of color in the spring blossoms and the wonderful 

 display of autumnal tints offered by the sweet gum, sassa- 

 fras, dogwood, black gum, red maple, sugar maple, scarlet 

 oak, blue beech, sorrel tree, ash and gingko. The white 

 bark of the gray birch, the dark bark of the black oak, 

 the gray of the beech, the golden yellow of the mulberry 

 and the mottled bark of the sycamore are interesting com- 

 parisons. The smooth bark of the mockernut hickory 

 contrasts greatly with the shaggy bark of the shagbark 

 hickory— members of the same family and yet how different. 

 A wonderful opportunity is tlius offered for a comparative 

 study of human nature — individuality and community 

 life, all reflected in trees. 



With this preliminary study and with the addition of 

 some remarks on the value of trees as health givers and 

 moral uplifters, the child is interested and attracted. The 

 lesson so far has attained its aim. 



2. Specific observations with a view to training the 

 observative powers: The child's training in closeness of 

 observation and scientific precision may be the next con- 

 sideration. His enthusiasm will now prompt him to lend 

 his interest for greater detail. We can teach him to recognize 

 a few of the common trees by their general characters— - 

 an American elm by its fan-shaped form, a gray birch by 

 its white bark, a white pine by the five needles to each 

 cluster, a horsechestnut by its opposite branching and big 

 sticky bud and a willow by its drooping habit. After that 

 we may introduce, if the age of the pupils justifies, more 



