SCIENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 187 
an, expert is given to the girls. A list of elements constantly present in plants 
is thus obtained, and the girls can then find out by means of growing plants 
in food solutions which of those elements is necessary to the life of plants. 
Many perennials are grown in normal food solutions, and generations of plants 
that have never been in the soil have been reared. 
2. Climbing Plants.—The girls compare the rates of revolution of various 
twining plants, see if twining is influenced by the nature of the support, and 
make many other experiments. 
3. Classification.—Before the girls study classification they become familiar 
with many of the British plants growing in the lane, wood, heath, and pond 
of the botany gardens. When they are studying the Natural Orders they, have 
charge of the Order beds in the garden. 
4. Soil Experiments——Experiments are made on soils from different parts 
of the botany gardens. Some of the experiments are : Comparison of the rates 
at which water passes down through various soils; comparison of the rates at 
which water passes up through various soils; comparison of the rates at which 
air passes through various soils; determination of percentage of humus in 
various soils; determination of some of the effects of the presence of humus. 
5. Heology. 
(1) Water plants. 
(2) Fresh-water marsh plants. 
Pebble beach, 
(3) Sea-shore plants { Sand dune, 
Salt marsh. 
(4) Heath and moorland plants. 
(5) Plants of oak wood. 
The botany gardens include a pond, fresh-water marshes, a pebble beach, a 
sand-dune, a salt marsh, a heath, and an oak wood, and in these the above 
plants are studied. In addition to the study of the structure of characteristic 
plants in these ecological gardens, many interesting problems are taken, and 
original investigations can be made. For example, experiments are being made 
in the oak wood to investigate the gradual changes in the character of the soil, 
in the total evaporating power of the atmosphere, and in the light intensity 
as the trees develop more leaves; and observations will be made of the effects of 
these changes on the ground vegetation. 
