1 66 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



of water in the schoolroom. Do any of the buds prove 

 to be flower buds? Any of the maples, elm, beech, or 

 box-elder are good to show the beauty of the tree flowers. 

 Note whether the maple and box-elder flowers all have 

 stamens and pistils. You will find the stamens in one 

 flower and the pistils in another. Watch for the develop- 

 ment of the fruit from the flower. The soft or white 

 maple and the elm both mature their seeds very early in 

 the spring. The elm fruit is ripe before the leaves are 

 fully developed. Make a special study of these seeds. 

 Plant some to see if they grow the first season. Why do 

 you find young elms along walks and 'fences ? 



The uses of trees should constitute part of the work. 

 This may be coordinated with the geography work in the 

 study of lumbering, paper making, building, carpentry, 

 etc. Also the value of forests in soil making should be 

 considered. 



Interesting topics for some of the older pupils to work 

 up are: What is being done to preserve our native forests? 

 What are the things that are destroying our forests? Tree 

 planting in prairie states. Arbor Day. 



In connection with tree study Arbor Day should be 

 celebrated, and an effort made to set out a few shade trees 

 or shrubs on the school grounds. Let the children help to 

 decide what trees shall be planted. Some of them may 

 have growing about their homes seedling elms, maples, 

 box-elders, etc., that they will be glad to have trans- 

 planted to the school yard. Discuss where the trees 

 should be planted to give the best effect, and yet be out of 

 the way. If the grounds are large, a row of trees may be 

 planted across the back of the lot, a few along the sides, 



