364 



NATURE STUDY. 



their green. In many plants, at this season, the stems have 

 finished their work, and have dried up. 



Leaves. B/eview the work of the mallow leaves : to 

 make the plant and the world look pretty, to protect the 

 flowers and the little leaves, to breathe and to take in food 

 from the air. 



Be sure that each child sees just how the young buttercup 

 leaves and flower-buds are kept warm ; they will not find 

 many as pretty illustrations of protection. 



Show them how much richer is the yellow of the flower 

 when there are green leaves near it, and how much prettier 

 the flowers look when hanging loosely and separated than 

 when massed together. Perhaps even the little folks can 

 get some hints from nature which may help them in arran- 

 ging the flowers they gather 



Fig. 30. Leaf of Buttercup. 



Describe ohe leaves. They are too complex for little 

 folks to draw ; but their form may be impressed by having 

 the pupils compare them with their hands, with the fingers 

 outspread (do not give them the terms palmate or digitate 



