CHAPTER XV 



PLAN FOR WEED STUDY 



WEEDS may be studied either in the spring or fall 

 term. The study should be emphasized in the fall, chiefly 

 because many weeds are in flower and fruit at this season. 



Ask the children to look in their gardens to see how 

 many different kinds of weeds are growing there, and to 

 bring two to school the next day. Select from those 

 brought in one of the most common, such as pigweed. Ask 

 what characteristics has this weed that make it so success- 

 ful. Have some of the children count the seeds on one 

 small stem and estimate the number of seeds on the plant. 

 What advantage is the great number of seeds to the plant ? 

 Think back to the middle of summer. Were any of these 

 plants prominent in your garden at that time ? Then you 

 thought you had all the weeds hoed out. Now you find 

 this tall plant with its seeds ripe. What does all this mean ? 

 It means that this weed makes a very rapid growth and 

 matures its seed in a very short time. Other advantages 

 may be pointed out, depending upon the weed under dis- 

 cussion. 



Suggest to the pupils that they try to find out all they 

 can about weeds in their neighborhood during the next 

 two weeks. Have them keep a list of all they find, and 

 what they find out about them, noting especially where the 

 plants are growing, and what characteristics they have that 



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