A GRADED COURSE OF NATURE-STUDY 459 



exchange seed. Observe injurious insects and weeds. Har- 

 vest the corn * planted last spring. Use it in study of the 

 life history of the plant. Husk the corn later. Have simple 

 judging of the best ears ( 223, 239, 230, 246.) 



Exhibit flowers raised in the garden. Cut for bouquets 

 daily.* 



Lessons in pruning — vines and shrubs. (229, 240, 232, 

 221.) 



Set out bulbs for spring. Mulching for winter. (221, 

 229.) Take up and pot plants desired for further use in- 

 doors. Clean up for winter. 



Plant wild fall perennials — sunflowers, goldenrods, asters. 



General: Observe more closely the pollination by in- 

 sects in flowers of the pumpkin, sweet pea, sunflower. (152, 

 158, 156, 216, 200, 209.) 



How plants protect themselves: Observe and test the 

 prickles on the thistle,* rose, 'gooseberry, raspberry; the 

 thorns on the locust * and the hawthorn; the stinging hairs 

 of the nettle; the sticky, bitter hulls of unripe walnuts and 

 butternuts. What enemies might harm them ? Find other ex- 

 amples of self-protection. (156, 152, 154, 158, 161, 193, etc.) 



Cereals: The com plant* and the grains as flowering 

 plants. Belated corn plants may still be found in flower 

 early in the school year; else black-board drawings must be 

 used to show the nature of the tassel, ear,* silk, and kernel. 

 Note the jointed stem, the slender sheathing leaves. Uses 

 made of the corn plant. 



In a similar way treat the grains.* Study the flower of 

 the wheat by means of drawings, supplementing as much as 

 possible with heads. Note that each kernel has its own husk 

 or chaff. Compare the other grains with wTieat. Compare 



