HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT II9 



seeds of the wild plants, or to continue with the 

 growing plants of the garden ? 



Beans and peas are germinated in many schools, 

 but in few are they grown to maturity, or brought 

 from home gardens, so that the flower and the 

 bud may be admired as buttercups and daisies are 

 adored. I protest that it is illogical to begin 

 in May with peas and beans, jump in June to 

 wild flowers, and land in the autumn on tick tre- 

 foils, stick-tights, and chestnut burrs. It is con- 

 fusing. Let us know one plant thoroughly, if 

 we have no time to do more. Let us know the 

 sprouting chestnut and the bean pod, let us know 

 the dandelion and the milkweed seeds, sprouting 

 as well as floating with a puff, puff in mid air. 

 Of course, they are pretty, and the children do 

 not need to be told that they are, nor to have the 

 floating seeds blown about the schoolroom. Too 

 often such an illustration of a well-known fact 

 makes the teacher ridiculous. 



Feed the same growing plants on different 

 soils, and different plants on the same soil, and 

 note results. Let them grow in sunshine and in 

 shade, even in darkness. Let them grow from the 

 dark toward the light. Let us have also aquatic 

 plants, submerged and floating plants. 



