310 NATURE STUDY. 



parts to the whole. For this reason the study of one or 

 more plants as wholes is urged near the beginning and 

 close of the school-year (in September and June), also 

 the watching in the schoolroom of life history, or devel- 

 opment from seed to the formation of seeds, of one or 

 more kinds of plants during the spring months (April to 

 June). This is particularly important during earlier 

 years. 



This principle, the necessity of considering parts in 

 their relations to wholes, and of relating new matter to 

 that previously studied, is exceedingly important edu- 

 cationally, and of wide application in influencing or de- 

 termining the selection of material. The study of trees 

 and of their changes throughout the year is very val- 

 uable, because nearly all the other plant study buds, 

 leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit can be related to trees; 

 and the plant study throughout the year is thus bound 

 together and made a unit. If the children have studied 

 in winter or early spring the horse-chestnut and maple 

 and cherry trees, and follow this with a study of the 

 buds, leaves, flowers, and fruit of the same trees when 

 these are in condition for study, their work will be 

 much better related, their ideas will be clearer, broader, 

 and better fixed in their minds, and the pupils will be 

 better prepared for understanding the great doctrine 

 of gradual development, or evolution, than if they 

 study the branches and bark of one tree, the buds of 

 another, and any leaves, flowers, and fruits accessible, 

 without reference or relation to what has been pre- 

 viously studied. 



