548 NATURE STUDY. 



parts of the bud are cared for. They see how carefully the 

 younger are protected by the older, how the flowers are en- 

 wrapped by the more hardy leaves and scales. They see 

 the work of each part. What better illustrations of the 

 order of nature and of the value of order ? The children 

 see each scale and leaf in its place, see each part develop in 

 order, and see how much is gained by having everything in 



order. 



" Earth is crammed with heaven, 

 And every bush afire with God, 

 But only he who sees 

 Puts off his shoes." 



ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNIXG. 



As early as possible, in March, gather or have the chil- 

 dren bring branches. These can often be obtained at the 

 time of the spring pruning or trimming. If selected intel- 

 ligently, their removal may be a help rather than an in- 

 jury to the tree. Special care may be necessary to prevent 

 the children from mutilating trees or shrubbery. The bud 

 study should lead the boys and girls to be more careful 

 about injuring the trees. 



Particularly good for March study with the primary 

 children are the buds of the lilac, horse-chestnut, beech, 

 and linden (and in the W,est the buds of the box elder and 

 of the red-berried, brown-pithed elder, or " elder-berry " ) 

 and those of the pussy willow, poplar, or balm of Gilead 

 (or cotton wood in the West), and red or white maple. 

 Those in the first group are leaf -buds or leaf and flower 

 buds, and present few difficulties, even to first-year children. 

 The buds of the last group are flower buds, the leaves de- 

 veloping later, and are too difficult to study in any detail 

 in the primary grades. The children c^n enjoy the beauty 

 of the early buds of pussy willow, poplar, and red maple, 

 and can observe the flowers of all merely as stages in the 



