CORRELATION 61 



earth features in sand, etc., may perhaps be referred to here. 

 Design draws heavily upon the nature-study for motives and 

 patterns. The most usual decorative forms of design are 

 derived from nature. Numerous applications of this study 

 may be made in nature-study itself, as in the decoration of 

 written work, essay and booklet covers, charts, portfolios, 

 note-books, record-books, etc.; and, of course, the field is 

 unlimited in manual work, textiles, basketry, pottery, and in 

 art study. 



Suggestions for color studies and combinations may be 

 found in the colors of flowers, autumn foliage, insects, 

 bird plumage, and the tints of the water and sky. We 

 generally begin color study with one of the most beautiful 

 phenomena of nature, the spectrum. 



We can learn a great deal in this country about the artistic 

 arrangement of cut flowers. A spray of blossoms may lose 

 half its beauty from a poor arrangement in the vase. The 

 Japanese are able to teach us much in this respect. 



One function of the art work in connection with nature- 

 study should be the observation of the beauty in common 

 things. Old gnarled trees, a neglected corner, the common 

 weeds, etc., have a beauty to those who can see it. 



Somewhat allied to art study is the artistic planning of 

 flower-beds, borders, the school or home garden, and tree 

 arrangement on the lawn. In the higher grades the ele- 

 ments of landscape gardening may be successfully taught. 

 We should, however, begin in the lower grades to cultivate an 

 appreciation for beautiful school grounds, home grounds, bou- 

 levards, and parks, and develop the civic improvement idea. 



The following is a suggestion of a few art topics chosen 

 from the nature course. It may be adapted to the artistic 



