16 SCHOOL COURSES. 



In illustration, let us trace through the spring this 

 seasonal influence. In the plant world, on the arrival of 

 spring there becomes evident a stirring of dormant life. 

 Seeds, scattered in the autumn, which have lain dead-like 

 in or on the ground throughout the winter, germinate. 

 The minute roots emerge and penetrate the ground, whilst 

 upward into the air there push the embryo stems (plumules) 

 bearing their seed leaves, and growth goes on apace. In 

 underground stems there is a movement of sap, buds below 

 and above ground swell out and unfold. The chemistry 

 of these things is invisible ; its results are visible and 

 impressive. Trees which through the winter have stood 

 bare and dead-like are already in that transition stage 

 'twixt bud and leaf so pleasant to look on. 



" Such a time as goes before the leaf, 

 When all the wood stands in a mist of green, 

 And nothing perfect." 



But perfection is delayed only for a time, and we 

 welcome each returning year the fresh tender leaf of 

 springtime upon the trees, the flowers of the shady 

 woodlands and of the fields. With the early sunny days 

 there comes the awakening of the winter sleepers flies, 

 bees, squirrels, hedgehogs; the hatching out of winter 

 eggs and pupae; the singing of the birds, mating and 

 nest-building ; the repeopling of the fresh waters ; over 

 all the land a wealth of awakening life, convincing 

 evidences to us, even when we ourselves are scarcely con- 

 scious of increased warmth, that the physical changes are 

 acting upon life. 



In our school courses such relations as these ought to be 

 realised, in the mind of the teacher, at all events. In 

 this connection it may be pointed out here that it is not 

 desirable in Nature Study to have a time table allotting an 

 equal amount of time for each week throughout the year. 

 In spring and summer considerably more time should be 

 given than in autumn or winter, and it will be found that 

 the materials prescribed in the courses are distributed in 

 keeping with this view. 



