266 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. VII. No. 165. 



, HIGH SCHOOL BOTANY. 



In the Nebraska High School Manual, 

 issued December, 1897, by the University of 

 Nebraska, and the State Superintendent of 

 Public Instruction, directions are given as 

 to the teaching of Botany in the State High 

 Schools, and especially those which are ' ac- 

 credited ' by the University. The sub- 

 stance of these directions may well receive 

 the wider publicity which Science can give 

 them. 



" One year should be given to the study 

 of plants in the high school. The old prac- 

 tice of beginning in the spring is no longer 

 regarded as advisable by educators. The 

 study may be made to alternate with some 

 other subject, as Zoology or Physiology, or 

 the alternate days may be used for labora- 

 tory work." 



" Modern Botany requires a properly 

 equipped laboratory. The room set apart 

 for it must be well lighted, preferably from 

 the north sky. It should be provided with 

 firm tables 27 or 28 inches high, and there 

 should be shelves and cases at the sides of 

 the room. The microscopes must be from 

 some good maker, so as to insure good re- 

 sults." Instruments by well known foreign 

 and American makers are suggested, rang- 

 ing in price from $16 to $20, and magnify- 

 ing from 75 to 600 diameters. Dissecting 

 sets and other necessary appliances are 

 enumerated and their cost given. 



" Some work may be done by the class, 

 under the direction of the intelligent 

 teacher, with but one microscope and the 

 other appliances, but as soon as possible 

 there should be in every high school six 

 microscopes, each with its accompanying 

 accessories. There should be, at the least, 

 one-fifth as many microscopes as there are 

 pupils in the class." 



" The Laboratory Work. — In this year of 

 work the pupil should study such selected 

 plants as will give him a general outline of 

 the Vegetable Kingdom, including a fair 



knowledge of the principal types of plants 

 and the modifications they have undergone. 

 For this purpose the following plants are 

 recommended : 



1. One or more protophytes, from the 

 following list : Chroococcus, Oscillaria, Nostoc, 

 Bacillus. 



2. Several green seaweeds from the fol- 

 lowing : Protococciis, Spirogyra, Vaucheria, 

 Cladophora, Oedogonium, and their degraded 

 relatives Mucor, Albugo, Peronospora, etc. 



3. At least one of the brown seaweeds: 

 Laminaria or Fueus. 



4. At least one of the red seaweeds : 

 Polysiphonia, Polcamium, or CoralUna. 



5. Several sac-fungi, from the following 

 lists : (a) Erysiphe, Mierosphaera, Podo- 

 sp>haera, etc.; (b) Plowrightia, Peziza; (c) 

 Puceinia, Ustilago. 



6. Several higher fungi, from the follow- 

 ing lists : (a) Lycoperdon, Secotium, Ithyphal- 

 lus ; (5) Agaricus, Polyporus, Stereum. 



7. At least one of the mosses : Mnium, 

 Bryum, Timmia, Funaria or Hypnum. 



8. At least one of the fernworts : As- 

 plenium, Cystopteris, Pteris, Equisetum, Lyco- 

 podium or Selaginella. 



9. At least one of the gymnosperms : 

 Plnus, Larix, Abies or Pieea. 



10. At least six angiosperms, as follows : 

 (a) two monocotyledons, one of which has 

 superior ovaries, as Alisma, Trillium, lAl- 

 iuin, Eryihronium, etc.; the other with in- 

 ferior ovaries, as Iris, Amaryllis, Orchis, 

 Spiranthes, etc.; (&) four dicotyledons, one 

 with superior ovaries and choripetalous 

 corolla, as Ranunculus, Capsella, Viola, 

 Silene, Callirrhoe, Geranium, Potentilla, Fra- 

 garia. Astragalus, etc. ; another, with superior 

 ovaries and gamopetalous corolla, as Prim- 

 ida, Steironema, Phlox, Hydrophyllum, I/itho- 

 spermwn, Ipomoea, Physalis, Pentstemon, 

 Mentha, Salvia, etc; a third, with inferior 

 ovaries and choripetalous corolla, as Epi- 

 lobium, Oenothera, Mentzelia, Opuntia, Aralia, 

 Cornus, Daucus, Pastinaca, Osmorrhiza, etc.; 



