CHAPTER XVII. 



A LESSON ON BUTTERCUPS. 



WHILE we may find it necessary for the understanding 

 of plant life to direct our attention temporarily to an 

 individual specimen, let us not distract our attention 

 or that of our pupils from the wider outlook. As we 

 examine the individual in detail, let us not forget the 

 buttercups in the fields and by the waysides. When out 

 of doors we should endeavour to see them with the precise 

 vision of our early childhood, when we gathered them 

 because in those days we saw the buttercups and not the 

 fields ; but we should seek to see them now with under- 

 standing, and to help cur pupils to do so also. 



Our first point is : For ourselves and for our pupils we 

 wish to make real the facts that plants are alive, and to 

 learn a little at least of what this means, and of how the 

 vital process goes on. 



THE COMMON MEADOW BUTTEECUP. 



(Ranunculus acris.) 



Let us draw it, learning the names of the chief parts as 

 we proceed, and at the same time noting their uses. The 

 functions of these chief parts should be educed as far as 

 possible from pupils (see Courses, Chapter III.), and at 

 quite an early stage they should have a clear grasp of these. 



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