532 NATURE STUDY. 



vations on the lilac are continued in the fall, until new 

 buds are formed, and the leaves drop off, thus completing 

 the cycle of development. 



Value in unifying all plant study. Frequently teachers 

 and children study, in their spring plant work, the buds of 

 some plants, the leaves of others, and the flowers of others. 

 In the fall they may study seeds and fruits which have no 

 relation to the spring work. If they can begin in March 

 or April with two or more trees or shrubs or even herbs, 

 such as house-plants or garden-plants or common -weeds, 

 and watch their development until the close of the school 

 year (sometimes continuing the work in the fall), all parts 

 of the plant study become correlated and unified ; the chil- 

 dren do not think of leaves merely as leaves, or of flowers 

 as flowers, but of all as parts of the plant, all with a com- 

 mon origin, all working together. The study of germina- 

 tion, watching the development of a seed until it forms 

 seeds, is also a great aid in continuity of thought and in 

 securing unity in the plant work. While it is best to study 

 the whole development of some buds, it is interesting and 

 helpful to observe stages in the development of others, to 

 impress certain thoughts, or illustrate certain phases of 

 plant life. The early stages of the pussy willow show 

 protection, and the early stages of the elder bud show 

 clearly order and plan. It may be well to study these, 

 even if their later development cannot be observed. 



Value from esthetic and economic point of view. Trees 

 have a rich esthetic content ; their value as ornaments and 

 educators in our cities is more and more recognized. Noth- 

 ing else in the plant world compares with our trees in their 

 grandeur. How much we can add to the lives of our 

 pupils if we can help them to appreciate and enjoy trees ! 

 Trees have ever appealed to nature lovers. They have a 



