114 Tue Ottawa NATURALIST. [August — 
A 
examined with an intelligent appreciation which would have been 
impossible without the previous hour’s class discussion. Many 
questions were asked regarding the fine specimen of meteoric 
iron. After having seen a real meteorite, the teachers will doubt- 
less satisfy their curiosity by reading up the subject of meteors at 
their earliest opportunity. Dr. Ami gave a short informal talk to 
the teachers in which he showed the value of a study of fossils in 
their assisting to determine whether or not valuable minerals 
might be found in a given rock formation. 
July 20. The little creek east of Britannia was explored for 
about one mile of its course. Near the mouth was seen the 
swampy immature flood-plain, while further up-stream an excel- 
lent crop was growing ona developed flood-plain. On the outer 
part of a curve in the stream the bank was much eroded while 
nearly oppesite was observed the usually accompanying sand-bar. 
It was suggested that the students should teach their pupils to 
test the tall of a stream by using crossed stakes and a spirit level. 
A series of miniature rapids was obliterated by moving the stones, 
and the effect in lowering the surface of the water was readily 
noticed. The opposite phenomenon was illustrated by referring 
to Patterson’s Creek, part of whose basin is drowned land, due 
to the backing up of the water by the filling of Rideau Canal. 
July 21. Delightful weather, surroundings and addresses char- 
acterized the final outing of the Summer School. The rendezvous 
was near the residence of the Director of the Experimental Farm. 
Dr. Charles Saunders showed the method of artificial cross-fertiliz- 
ation by using flowers of two different varieties of lily. From 
this he passed to the cross-fertilization of two varieties of wheat. 
In breeding wheat three objects are kept in view; earliness in 
maturing, ‘abundance of yield and quality of flour. 
Prof. Saunders showed specimens of a great many different 
species of oaks. As in the pines, the time required to mature the 
seed varies from one to two years. The d/ack oaks in this par- 
ticular are d/ennial and are characterized by having d7zs¢les on the 
of the leaves, easily remembered by the three initial ds. 
Mr. Alex. McNeill, Chief of the Fruit Division of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, gave a demonstration of two methods of 
grafting. He recommended for Nature Study work the use of a 
jeweller’ s magnifying glass, which permits both hands to be free 
for purposes of manipulation and one eye for gross observation. 
Dr. J. C. Glashan quoted the nursery rhyme, ‘‘ Pussy-cat, 
pussy-cat, where have you been,” etc., to illustrate that the nature 
of the objects seen depends upon the nature of the observer. He 
emphasized the importance to the teacher of the highest of nature 
studies—the study of the chiid. 
