SPEING NATURE STUDY. 559 



inner somewhat fibrous green part, the denser wood, and 

 the spongy pith or the pith cavity in the centre. The bark 

 protects, the wood supports or upholds. How is each fitted 

 for its work ? Show, by testing with weights, the support- 

 ing power of paper, some rolled tightly, and some rolled so 

 as to form a hollow cylinder, how much better it is to have 

 the wood in a hollow cylinder, rather than to have the same 

 amount of material in a solid rod of much less diameter. 



The buds containing flowers are quite similar to the leaf 

 buds, but have in their centre, wrapped about by the 

 leaves, a mass resembling a very minute bunch of grapes. 

 Each little ball is a flower. Why does Mother Nature or 

 Mother Lilac place the flowers in the centre, the best pro- 

 tected part of the bud ? The lilac has reason to be proud 

 of her blossoms. Some time we may learn another reason 

 why the lilac and other plants take the very best care of 

 their flowers. The flower buds may form flowers in the 

 schoolroom, if kept in warm water. 



This study of the lilac may take two or three weeks, 

 alternating with the " spring notes/' or with the study of 

 the forms of water, or with other bud or tree study. 



When the children have observed the whole development 

 of the lilac, it will be helpful, for a review, to go back to 

 the undeveloped bud, and have the children tell about the 

 use of all the parts and the way in which they are fitted 

 for their work. For the younger pupils the teacher may 

 tell in story form the life of the lilac bud, or let the lilac 

 bud tell, in imagination, its own story, the children supply- 

 ing, as far as they can, the leading facts and incidents. 

 This review is most important; properly conducted, it 

 serves to bind together and clinch what might otherwise 

 be disconnected and of comparatively little educational 

 value. The success of the review, and the final results of 

 the work, will depend on the extent to which the teacher 



