372 NATURE STUDY. 



Occurrence. How many have seen milkweeds growing ? 

 Where ? 



Life, Work, and Structure of Plant. Centre the interest 

 and thoughts of the children about the pod, a wonderful 

 cradle and treasure-case. How have root, stem, leaves, 

 and flowers helped to make the pod? Bring out briefly 

 the special work of each. Dwell on the " milk " as the 

 blood of the plant. Plants which have not made pods, or 

 have not matured them, usually have at this season consid- 

 erable " milk ; " those in which the pods are fully matured 

 usually have little or no " milk." The " milk " is used up 

 in ripening the pods. Call attention to the height and 

 strength of the stem, as compared with the stems of 

 the plants previously studied. It must be strong to hold 

 up such heavy pods. We will see, when we have studied 

 the seeds, that it is much better for the seeds to be lifted 

 up so high. 



Why have the flowers dropped off ? Why are stem and 

 leaves turning yellow or brown ? Their work is done. 

 Those which have not made pods are much greener. 



The Milkweed Pod. The result of the season's work : 

 root, stem, leaves, flowers, soil, rain, sun, all have worked 

 together during five or six months to make these pods. 

 As Lowell writes in " The Changeling " : 



" For the whole year long I see 



All the wonders of faithful Nature 

 Still worked for the love of me ; 



Winds wander and dews drop earthward, 

 Rain falls, suns rise and set, 



Earth whirls, and all but to prosper 

 A poor little violet." 



Note the position of the pods, up near the top of the 

 tall stem, and the peculiar way in which they are fastened 

 to tbe stem. How easily they move when slightly dis- 



