Il8 NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



mounted so that they may be handled and studied with- 

 out danger, and kept in a drawer or suitable box by itself 



and labeled : 



POISONOUS PLANTS 



Weeds. — A weed is a plant that persists in growing 

 where it is not wanted. This insistent impudence, the 

 vigor and tenacious hold on life, the great number of 

 seeds produced, and the numerous devices weeds employ 

 to secure their distribution, the brigandish crowding 

 aside and killing down of all other plants within reach, 

 all tend to constitute the weeds a most interesting group 

 of plants to study. 



We may first ask the class to write the names of all 

 the weeds they know. For another lesson let the pupils 

 write descriptions of the more important and interesting 

 plants on their lists, giving their life stories, telling when 

 they blossom, and especially when they begin to ripen 

 their seeds. After these lessons we may make an excur- 

 sion around the school yard and count the different kinds 

 of weeds found growing in the area. 



A lesson that never fails to interest the children may 

 be arranged by having them fill a number of flowerpots 

 with earth from different sources, — from their gardens, 

 from different levels in some freshly dug cellar, from the 

 bottom of the pond, etc. Keep them in a warm place 

 and watch the different plants as they come up. Many 

 interesting questions will arise as to how the weed seeds 

 got into the soil and how long they may remain dormant. 



^ In making this collection such plants as are poisonous to the touch 

 may be handled by means of pieces of newspaper. 



