20 



NOTE— Measure a gill of com, wheat, beans and peas; soak 

 twenty-four hours. Measure. Which absorbs most water? Let 

 each pupil examine a dry and soaked seed. Plant seed in differ- 

 ent kinds of soil— clay, sand and loam. Place in light, shade, 

 and dark to detect influence of light upon plant. Record time of 

 planting, first appearance above ground, dropping of exhausted 

 cotyledons. 



Pea. 



Corn. 



Wheat. 



Seed. Bean. 



Planted. April. 



Depth. 1 inch. 



Above ground. April. 



Cotyledons, 



Leaves. 



Leaves. 



Position. 



Margins. 



Shapes. 



To compare gradual development of plant, pull up, press, and 

 mount specimens on alternate days, showing development of dif- 

 ferent parts from seed to seed. Development may also be ob- 

 served by being placed in bottles of alcohol. Carefully date each 

 specimen. Plant acorns in yard. 



Fill a large sponge with flaxseed and place in a shallow dish 

 filled with water. Keep moist. 



Mark off a yard square and observe the work of eartiiworms. 

 Each morning, carefully collect castings and measure. Some 

 idea of amount of work being done in renewing and fertilizing 

 soil. Study structure, food, habits, senses; adaptation of struc- 

 ture to environment. Pupils should be led to see that each plant 

 and animal is adapted to perform its function in the economy of 

 nature. 



Relate April showers to increasing temperature — greater heat, 

 greater evaporation, consequently greater condensation. 



MAY. 



PLANTS. 



Eeason for early appearance of wild flowers ; food ; pro- 

 tection and color of spring flowers; advantage of color; un- 

 folding of buds, ^^enation. 



