Miss Simpson's Address 165 



studied the structure in the class-room and the life 

 out-of-doors. Not many weeks ago I was out with 

 a class of teachers. It chanced to be one of the few 

 warm days we had in early summer; there was 

 scarcely a breath of wind. We came across a willow- 

 tree covered with fruit. Happily for us the little, 

 green, pod-like fruits were opening in the warm sun- 

 shine, and out floated the plumed seeds — hundreds 

 and thousands of them, making quite a white mist as 

 they were carried quietly away by the gentle breeze. 

 What an interesting talk we had on seed-scattering, 

 especially as we had just found the winged fruits of the 

 wych-elm ! What a satisfactory introduction that was 

 to the subject, so much better than any diagrams, so 

 much better than any chapter in a book, so much 

 better even than specimens carried into the class- 

 room. 



But this out-of-door work, to be of real value, should 

 be carried on as thoroughly and systematically as 

 the work in the class-room. Not just an odd walk 

 now and then, but definitely planned excursions, con- 

 tinued, if possible, all round the year, and on each 

 excursion some definite piece of work should be done. 

 Drawing-books and note-books should be part of the 

 equipment of each student. Of course, in arranging 

 for these excursions, one comes across the old diffi- 

 culty — want of time. But as Thring says: "Great 

 interest will make up for want of time ". After one 

 or two excursions I often find the teachers have 

 plenty of time, and at the end of the walk the ques- 

 tion is: "When will the next be.?" 



In connection with these courses for Nature-study 

 which are not connected with the regular work of 



