SPRING NATURE STUDY. 533 



rich literature and art, for an appreciation of which tree 

 study is the best preparation. Americans are understand- 

 ing better, as the years pass, the economic value of trees. 

 Nature study should lead and prepare our children to 

 cherish and better care for our trees. 



What trees give to us. As our children study the tree 

 as a form, and learn the features by which they can recog- 

 nize it, they must also think of it as a life adding much to 

 our lives. 



As we prepare them for a field study of some tree, or as 

 we stand with them about the tree, cannot we give breadth 

 to their thoughts, give a larger outlook or uplook by reading 

 to them or discussing with them thoughts like these ? 



" What plant we in this apple tree ? 

 Buds, which the breath of summer days 

 Shall lengthen into leafy sprays ; 

 Boughs, where the thrush, 1 with crimson breast, 

 Shall haunt and sing and hide her nest ; 

 We plant upon the summer lea 

 A shadow for the noontide hour, 

 A shelter from the summer shower, 

 When we plant the apple tree. ' ' 



BRYANT. 



If a maple is selected for study, break a twig or punc- 

 ture the bark a day or two beforehand, so that the children 

 can see the flow of the sap. Then ' tell them something of 

 the use man makes of the sap of the sugar maple. If the 

 elm or oak is observed, introduce the study by telling some 

 story associated with an historic elm or oak. Associate 

 the evergreen with Christmas and the chestnut or hickory 

 with the nuts we and the squirrels gathered last fall, 

 and enjoyed during the winter. The bare branches of the 

 fruit tree mean so much more when the children's fancy 



1 The robin redbreast, so-called. 



