ULLRICH] SOME REASONS FOR THE STUDY OF TREES 23 



flowers in the simimer may teach productivity. After the maturity 

 of the fruit, in the autumn, the cycle of the year's period of vegeta- 

 tion and reproduction is complete. After this a period of rest 

 ensues, a time for the gathering of strength for the new issues of 

 life. What is the ethical lesson for application to htmian hfe? 

 Success in life may be insured by the acceptance in good faith of a 

 program ol life wnth the elements of power or possibility, activity, 

 productivity, and leisure, as cardinal principles. A matter of fact 

 scientist may say "This is not science. It is not Botany." The 

 answer is "Correct, but it is good nature-study." 



A common reason for nature-study instruction in the grades is to 

 develop the aesthetic sense in boys and girls. It is only too true, 

 that quite frequently the sense of the beautiful is starv^ed and 

 atrophied in those who live in the midst of nature's art. It is not 

 fiction but fact, to say that many times the beautiful sunset is not 

 an inspiration to the highest impulses of the farmer boy and girl, 

 but suggests a task, namely, "milking time." Although the 

 ethical lessons and aesthetic responses from the study of trees are 

 largely incidental, an awakening of the sense of the beautiful may 

 come from an appreciation of art in trees. A just valuation of the 

 practical value of beauty in ever\- day affairs, is one of the needs 

 of the present age. An illustration of the influence of beauty in 

 the every day tasks of folks, may be helpful to understand just how 

 beauty assists in the development of a race of efficient and culttu^ed 

 folks. The city of Paris is famous for its numerous skilled work- 

 men. A natural query is, how did Paris develop this reputation ? 

 An attempt to offer an explanation on economic groimds proves 

 unsatisfactor>^ The city is not situated in the center of a great 

 supply of raw materials or in a good harbor. The city is located 

 some distance up the Seine Riv6r. What then, is the explanation 

 of the large niunber of skilled workmen in Paris? An investigation 

 shows that the city is noted for its beautiful architecttu-al buildings 

 for business and residence. The city is also noted for its art 

 galleries. These are thrown open to the public on Sxmda}- after- 

 noons, and are visited at these times by himdreds of people, among 

 them a large nimiber of industrial workers of the city. Is it 

 visionary to believe that the architectural buildings, and the master 

 paintings and statuary of the art galleries exert a stimiilating and 

 uplifting influence on those who look on them? Is it illogical to 

 infer, that the industrial workers of Paris, as they behold and 



