FALL PLANT STUDY. 361 



THE BUTTERCUP. 1 



The buttercup does not have the many interesting habits 

 of the mallow (in the spring its flowers turn towards the 

 sun, but not to any marked extent in the autumn). But 

 it shows somewhat more clearly the spreading and branch- 

 ing of the roots, to get nourishment from the ground, the 

 extension of the veins into every part of the leaves, to sup- 

 port and carry food to each division, and the protection of 

 the young leaves by the older ones, and will give the chil- 

 dren a better idea of the parts and plan of the flower. 



Preparatory Work. The field lesson is not so indispen- 

 sable in the work with the buttercup as in that with the 

 mallow. All the class-work with the buttercup can be 

 done in the schoolroom. 



But pains should be taken to have the boys and girls 

 individually observe the plant out of doors in its home, 

 find and report where it grows, how high it grows, how it 

 lifts its bright flowers up above the leaves, while the modest 

 dainty blossoms of the mallow hide below the leaves, look 

 for " cheeses " or for seeds, and see how Mother Buttercup 

 protects her baby leaves and flowers. 



Dig up several plants, as directed before, selecting the 

 youngest and most vigorous plants with flowers, and place 

 some in window-boxes, and some in water in glass jars. 

 The roots are usually interlaced, several plants being 

 closely fastened together ; at least two or three plants 

 should be separated for study. 



Preparatory Lesson. In the preparatory lesson the 

 teacher may give the children the thought, "The butter- 

 cup catches the sun in its cup," and centre her work about 

 this. Perhaps this poem may impress the thought of the 



i The plant studied is the tall buttercup, the most common species in Michi- 

 gan, Minnesota, and New York. 



