NA TURE-STUD V AND EXPRESSION 5 3 



It involves no small risk to unfold the tender leaflets and shoots to 

 the uncertainties of early spring. The extent of the risk may be 

 broadly imagined by the numbers of dormant buds that are held 

 as reserves. In sundry ways each plant tries to checkmate the 

 possible treachery of the elements. In some cases, as m the ash, 

 the bud scales grow and attain considerable size, thus affording the 

 early protection possibly needed. In others the stipules perform 

 a similar office ; and all seek to gain more or less time, before 

 fully exposing the young leaf surface to the glare of heat and light, 

 by a diversity of folding, wrinkling, and curling of leaves. The 

 brilliant coloring of some young leaves, as in the oak and sassafras, 

 probably expresses a heat-relation by means of which the young 

 cells are able to extract a little more warmth from the sunshine, 

 and thus give the plant the advantage of a little earlier start. This 

 seems like a doubtful explanation in the case of the sassafras, at 

 least, whose young leaves put forth in July are as highly colored 

 as those are which start in April and May. 



In addition to their work upon the landscape and its details, 

 many of which limited space forbids even mention, the pupils 

 for several years had under observation an area known as the 

 school garden. A view of this is given in Fig. 5. The garden 

 was about 40 by 50 meters, and contained approximately half an 

 acre. It was divided in various ways to suit changing conditions, 

 but always in such manner as to give each grade, from the kinder- 

 garten up, a fair proportion of the ground to care for. It is a great 

 point for the teacher to recognize the fact that children's interests 

 are by no means all identical in nature-study. None are lacking 

 in all interest, but very few interests run exactly in the same chan- 

 nel. The value of the work is much enhanced by throwing open 

 the whole field to the pupils. Some of them, therefore, have been 

 allowed to follow up certain phases of the garden-work, while 

 others have devoted themselves more closely to the wild plants or 

 to the birds or insects. As the different pupils report upon their 

 work, however, there always appears a considerable community of 

 interest, corresponding to the interrelations that develop among the 

 things studied. 



In autumn the color record becomes, if possible, more varied 

 and richer. The landscape changes are more vivid and striking. 

 Insect life is at its best. Caterpillars in almost endless variety 



