SPRING NATURE STUDY. 601 



This lesson may be applied by further observation by the 

 children of house plants and weeds. Cannot they repeat 

 the observations of last fall on the mallow-plant, and see 

 again how the leaves face and follow the sun from morning 

 to night ? In the spring the leaves of many other plants 

 do this. Perhaps they can see how the leaves of house 

 plants, such as the geranium, arrange themselves so as to 

 get as much light as possible ; those that cannot get light 

 fade and die. 



LESSON XI. MORE WORK FOR THE LEAVES. PROTECTING 

 THE BUDS. 



Watch the further development of the new leaves. Note 

 how the buds always grow where they are protected by the 

 leaves. By the latter part of May flower buds are likely 

 to appear. 



This protective work of leaves is better shown by other 

 plants. The mallow (see work for September) shows it 

 very clearly, the young leaves being folded fan-like in the 

 axils of the older leaves. In the common buttercup the 

 stems of the older leaves are hollow toward the base, and 

 enclose very securely the leaf and flower buds. The pea 

 shows very clearly how buds and young leaves are pro- 

 tected by their older and stronger brothers and sisters. 



There is material for several field lessons, related to and 

 supplementary to the bean study, on " How baby leaves are 

 protected by their older brothers and sisters." 



The leaves have other functions, such as breathing for 

 the plant and making plant food or starch out of water 

 and air ; but these the teacher can only talk about, and the 

 little children cannot see or comprehend, so it seems better 

 to postpone the study of the other work of the leaves to 

 later years. (See outline on morning glory.) The three 

 uses given, to beautify the world, to throw out water, to 



