CHAPTER XVIII 



STUDY OF WILD FLOWERS 



FLOWERS appeal to children more than some other 

 forms of nature. Sometimes we feel that they do not 

 always appeal in the best way. Often there seems to be 

 a desire on the part of children to pluck every flower in 

 sight, carry it about a short time, and then throw it down 

 to wither with its fellows. 



The special purpose of this work should be to lead the 

 children not only to appreciate more fully the beauty of 

 the wild flowers, but to enjoy seeing them as they appear 

 in their natural surroundings. This does not mean that 

 no wild flowers should be gathered by the children. The 

 gathering of flowers and placing them in glasses of water 

 in the schoolroom or house is certainly one of the pleasures 

 that should not *be denied. But the feeling that every 

 blossom must be plucked and perhaps torn to pieces before 

 it can be appreciated should be repressed. 



Nothing is so likely to bring about this attitude of 

 mind toward the flowers as to make a study of them in their 

 natural haunts, with observations of their development 

 from bud to seed. 



If a school building is situated near the woods, the 

 wild- flower study should be emphasized in the spring; if 

 in a prairie region, then the emphasis should be placed on 

 the autumn flowers. This does not mean, however, that 



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