MANOAl, OF NATURB STUDY. 49 



The sycamore^ or button wood, is known by its 

 large leaf, heart-shaped at base, which contains 

 an inverted cup in bottom of leaf-stalk, which covers 

 the newly-forming bud. Its whitish, green bark 

 separates into thin plates, which soon fall away. 

 This tree bears balls which contain seeds. 



For further discussion of trees, see Apgar's 

 Trees, Gray's Botany, or Howe's Science Teaching. 



4. Study Growth of Vegetables. — a. Radish. 

 b. Onion, c. Lettuce. 



Suggestions : Plant a few seeds of each of these 

 plants to be observed during growth. They may 

 be planted in a common soap-box, or, if it be de- 

 sired to have each kind separate, cigar boxes may 

 be used, though a deeper box would be better for 

 the radish. These should be planted in February, 

 if the school-room is safe against frost, so that the 

 children will be able to get as much of the life his- 

 tory as possible before school closes in June. 



During the first year of this course, the children 

 studied the forms and colors of leaves, observed 

 their preparation for winter, their budding forth 

 again in the spring. They also learned to dis- 

 tinguish the parts of a plant, as root, stem, leaf, 

 flower. 



In the second year, they studied the forms of 

 leaves, and learned to associate them with the 

 plants or trees on which they grew. 



