SPRING NATURE STUDY. 613 



JUNE PLANT STUDY. 

 THE FLOWERS AND THEIR WORK. 



4 ' In all places, then, and in all seasons, 



Flowers expand their light and sonl-like wings, 

 Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons, 

 How akin they are to human things." 







" And with childlike, credulous affection 

 We behold their tender buds expand : 

 Emblems of our own great resurrection, 

 Emblems of the bright and better land." 



LONGFELLOW. 



THE flowers. How shall we approach, them ? How shall 

 we study them ? 



The flower is the summit of the plant kingdom. It is as 

 perfect in detail, as marvellous in structure, as beautiful in 

 color and form, as anything in nature. The flower was the 

 favorite object lesson of the Great Teacher. It has been an 

 inspiration to the poet, a messenger of peace to the troubled 

 and anxious, a means of brightening and uplifting darkened 

 hearts and homes. 



Shall we consider the flower simply as something for boys 

 and girls to pick to pieces and throw away ? Shall we 

 teachers in the elementary school follow the lead of so 

 many in high school and college, and teach our pupils to 

 regard the flower, mainly as something to be picked apart, 

 or " analyzed," and described, and perhaps pressed out of 

 shape and laid away, scarcely to be looked at again ? 



In the upper grades, more or less "analyzing" is neces- 

 sary. Even this can be done, with older children, in such 

 a way as to make the pupils more reverent toward the 

 flowers. 



If we make our flower study with our little folks a mere 



