94 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



and discussions upon the general functions of the different 

 parts of the plants, limiting this work to points observable 

 by the children and readily appreciable deductions made 

 by them from observed facts; note the various devices 

 shown for securing the light relation as indicated by 

 variations in leaf pattern and position; observation of the 

 parts of the flowers; discussion of preservation of wild 

 flowers and discouragement of reckless picking; hepatica, 

 Indian turnip, violet, and trillium; observation of the two 

 kinds of flowers in the Indian turnip ; what are flowers for ? 

 what becomes of the pollen ? irregularity of flower parts in 

 the violet. 



Soil: Observation of clay, sand, gravel, humus, and 

 garden soil; what things are found in garden soil? plant 

 seeds in different kinds of soil and note effect on growth; 

 careful observation of relation of roots to soil; experiments 

 showing the turning of roots toward moisture; root hairs; 

 observation of root tip under microscope. 



Trees: American elm; general form; flower, fruit, and 

 leaves, noting time of appearance and maturity of each; 

 how long does it take to mature the fruit? adaptation for 

 dissemination of seeds; plant seeds; make acquaintance of 

 other elms on campus, English, Scotch, and Camperdown; 

 hackberry; sumach; haws; learn to recognize elm seedlings 

 and look for them along walks and fences; why should they 

 occur here? 



Insects: Continue observation of ladybugs; how have 

 they spent the winter? potato beetle; relation of ladybugs 

 to these; sawfly larvae on gooseberry and currant; work 

 out their life history; look for the natural foes of these 

 insects; observe aphids on cockscomb galls on elm leaves. 



