A GRADED COURSE OF NATURE-STUDY 445 



starch and wheat-flour. What do we raise grains and corn 

 for? What does the wheat plant or the corn plant raise the 

 kernels for ? Refer to seed wheat and seed corn. (P, R, S, 

 154, 156, 213, 225, 222, 228.) 



Seed dispersal: Illustrations, agents of dispersal. Book 

 illustrated with drawings, or charts. (N, K, M, 154, 156, 

 161.) 



Simple talk on pollination — pollen transfer to stigma; 

 no fruit otherwise. (K, 200, 156, 158.) 



Visit a swamp * and observe in a general way the character 

 of vegetation, absence of hard woods, perhaps all trees; 

 abundance of sedges,* grasses, bullrushes, cattails,* joe-pye 

 weed,* etc. Water-soaked soil, mud. Also visit a sand 

 dune * or very dry soil, and note vegetation there. Com- 

 pare with the other in character and abundance. Why the 

 difference ? Bring out the dependence of plants upon moist- 

 ure and soil conditions. (154, 156, 158, V, 327, 338.) 



Trees : Renew acquaintance with trees learned in former 

 years. Add red oak,* basswood,* locust,* sweet gum. 

 Make study of character of each tree. (173, etc.) Take 

 class into a forest when trees are in autumn colors or the 

 leaves are falling.* Observe the closeness of the trees, their 

 slender growth, the numerous dead branches, fallen trees, 

 decaying logs with fungi,* the matted leaf mould, the black 

 soil underneath. Dig deeper and the soil is less black. Note 

 birds and other animals in the forest. Observe the effect 

 of storms. Try to identify the trees; make a list of those 

 seen. Listen to the sighing or roaring of the wind, the creak- 

 ing of limbs, the calls of the animals, and note the grace of 

 the swaying tree tops and branches, the rustling of the leaves, 

 the falling leaves, the shadows and lights of the forest. Notice 



