needham] course in NATURAL HISTORY OF FARM 173 



"For what selected," "Location," "Best seen from" and "At what 

 time." The object of this study was to cultivate appreciation 

 for the beauties of a rural environment. 



3. Noteworthy trees of the farm. — "Best specimens I have seen 

 of: I, white pine; 2, hemlock; 3, cedar; 4, larch; 5, oak; 

 6, hickory; 7, chestnut; 8, butternut; 9, beech; 10, birch; 

 II, maple; 12, elm; 13, ash; 14, basswood; 15, sycamore; 16, 

 tulip tree; 17, hornbeam; 18, flowering dogwood." Data called 

 for concerning these "best trees" is indicated by the column head- 

 ings "Chosen for" what particular excellence (symmetry, form 

 of trunk, type of branching, color, etc.), "Location," and "Best 

 viewed from." Also on this sheet was called for location of the 

 best bit of pine, oak, elm and beech-woods, and best general forest 

 cover. This optional was offered in the belief that no one knows 

 trees until he knows individual trees. 



These optional studies have one great merit that much of our 

 assigned work sadly lacks. They encourage spontaneity of 

 observation. The work is done without an overseer and oracle 

 at hand, and done voluntarily. In the future I shall have more 

 of them. 



The two examinations in this course were held in the field. 

 A few students trained to pass examinations of another sort com- 

 plained bitterly that they did not know how to cram for these. 

 Not even tutoring schools could help them. Knowing things in 

 nature was very different from knowing words put down on paper. 



Instructions issued contained the following statements: 



"Specimens, such as have been studied in this course, will be 

 on display in adjacent places in six groups, corresponding to the 

 topics named. Members of the class will be expected to identify 

 the specimens, and to give certain information concerning themi. 



Separate papers for each topic will be furnished by the instruc- 

 tors in charge. Each paper is to be completed and handed in 

 on the spot before passing to the next place and topic." 



It chanced that one of these examinations coincided with a 

 heavy fall of snow which made writing in the field difficult. In the 

 future I shall have in reserve a set of lantern slides made from 

 good photographs of the real things. With these in hand much 

 the same kind of a test may be given indoors. 



The doing over and over of so much field work of like character 

 in twenty sections, with the assistance of half a dozen instructors 



