WHAT IS NATURE STUDY? 99 



flowers. It contributes to the happiness or comfort of 

 man, and has inspired the poet. It points up to its 

 Maker and Protector. It has many other relations. 

 To understand nature, we must keep in mind, investi- 

 gate and arrange or group, these relations whose mutual 

 actions and reactions constitute nature. These relations 

 can be summed up as follows : 



First. To the whole of which it is a part, and to 

 other parts of that whole. The flower or leaf is not 

 merely a flower or leaf, but is related to the whole plant, 

 and to every part of the plant. This brings out func- 

 tion, or use, and plan. 



Second. To natural environment. The plant or 

 animal is related to water and soil and food and air. 

 This brings out life and function, and adaptation of 

 structure to function or work, and impresses mutual 

 dependence and co-operation. 



Third. To past and future. The study of plant and c// 

 animal is incomplete until we investigate its life history. 

 The raindrop is but one stage in a long series of changes 

 or transformations. The fragment of rock or of soil is 

 most wonderful and instructive when considered as a 

 history of the past, or a prophecy of the future. 



Fourth. To other individuals, similar and dissimilar, c 

 leading to comparison and classification. 



Fifth. To other phenomena, bearing to it the rela- 

 tions of cause and effect. These relations are promi- 

 nent in physics and chemistry. 



Sixth. To man, ministering to his spiritual, ethical, 

 aesthetic, and material nature and needs. Nature must 



