SPRING NATURE STUDY. 547 



BUD STUDY. 



In many parts of the country the tree buds do not de- 

 velop until April or even May, and it may seem wiser to 

 postpone the study of buds until the children can see them 

 develop naturally out-of-doors. But during these months 

 of awakening, many other things must be studied ; the 

 germination of seeds, the unfolding of the leaves, the de- 

 velopment of the flowers, all come and must be studied 

 then, or not at all. 



It seems best to study the buds in March, as much as 

 possible. This can be readily done by " forcing " them. 

 The branches of almost any tree or shrub can be made to 

 bud out, and form fairly perfect leaves and flowers, if kept 

 in fresh water in a warm (not hot) room. The water 

 should be changed daily. If the water is warm the buds 

 develop more rapidly. It is well to trim off the lower end 

 of the branches to be immersed in water with a sharp 

 knife, making a clean, smooth cut, and to repeat this trim- 

 ming every few days. It is said that buds will develop 

 more rapidly if the cutting is done under water. 



In this way buds can be made to develop in the school- 

 room, where the pupils can watch the whole process. There 

 is a very great advantage in this ; it is much better than 

 simply studying the buds before and after they develop on 

 the trees. The children see Mother Nature at work. They 

 see the gum about the bud softening, the scales spreading, 

 the leaves unrolling, perhaps the flowers developing. One 

 who has not thus watched the bud cannot understand how 

 intensely interesting it is ; very much better than tearing 

 the bud open. 



What better introduction can the children have to the 

 study of life and life processes? What better study of 

 protection and care ? The children see how exquisitely the 



