51 



ANIMALS. 



bees, wasps, butterflies and moths in connection with fer- 

 tilization of flowers. 



(a) JBees honey bee, leaf cutter bee, solitary bee, bumble-bee. 



Community males or drones, females or queens and work- 

 ers. 



(b) Wasps solitary wasps, social wasps, and digger wasps. 



MINERALS. 



"Fill a flower pit with soft, dark earth and mold from the border 

 of the wood and carry it to the student of entomology, and see if he 

 can name one half of the living forms of this little kingdom of life; 

 or hand it to the botanist, well trained in the lower orders of plants, 

 and see how many of the living forms which these few handfuls 

 of dirt contain he can classify. Present this minature farm to the 

 chemist and the physicist and let him puzzle over it. Call in the 

 farmer, and ask him what plants will thrive best in it; or keep the 

 soil warm and moist for a time and have the gardener say of the tiny 

 plants that open as if by magic, w r hich are good and which are bad. 

 Mark well what all these experts have said and call in an orchidist 

 to tell you how to change dead, lifeless, despised earth into fruit; 

 ask the physiologist to explain how sodden earth is transformed into 

 nerve and brain." (Taken from "The Fertility of the Land," by Prof. 

 I. P .Roberts, Cornell University.) 



NOTE. The perpetuation of. the species depends upon the vitality of the seed. 

 Continued self-fertilization produces weak seed; cross fertilization is a toning 

 up process and is effected by the structure of flowers and aid of insects. Close 

 study will reveal the secrets. 



If possible have a bee hive in the school room for observation. It can be 

 arranged with glass sides, so that the bees will not have access to the room. 

 Nests of bumble-bees will be found in deserted nests of field mice. Observe rose 

 leaves for work of leaf cutter bee. Can you find the nests? Collect nests of 

 solitary and social wasps. Inspect dead branches of sumach and other pithy 

 plants for nests of bees, wasps, and digger wasps. 



Read "Bees, Ants, and Wasps," by Sir John Lubbock. 



INSECTS. 



There is no problem so difficult for the farmer to solve as the eco- 

 nomic relation of insects. It is well, therefore, for the children to 

 become acquainted with the life histories of insects that they may 

 have an intelligent interest in and a keen appreciation of those which 

 are injurious and those which are beneficial. There is much valu- 

 able literature on the subject. The best results are secured by study- 

 ing the creatures themselves in their native haunts, and live speci- 



