NATURE-STUDY LESSONS. 157 



9. («) Keep a portion of the garden well hoed during 

 dry weather to observe the effect upon the 

 growing plants. 



(•<J) Which part, the well-hoed or the other part, 

 seems to retain moisture better? 



(c) By examining dusty places like roadsides and 

 nearby hard ground during very dry weather, 

 determine a way of preventing evaporation 

 from the soil. 



XLIII.-ICE AND MICA. 



1. In what respects are ice and mica different from all 

 animals and plants that you have seen .■• 



2. Report observation upon the source of each of these 

 two minerals. 



3. Are they solid or liquid ? 



4. Which is the more glittering or shining ? 



The quality of the surface of a mineral with regard to the kind and 

 intensity of the light it reflects is its lustre. 



A surface which has lustre is said to be lustrous. 



5. Scratch each with a knife or wire nail. Note differ- 

 ences in the streaks made. 



6. Compare the color of ice and mica. 



7. Which is more transparent? 



8. Try to scratch mica with ice and ice with mica, and 

 from this infer which is harder. 



9. Try to break each, and infer which is more brittle. 



10. If possible bend each, and judge which is more 

 flexible. 



11. By bending, twisting or altering the shape in any 

 way, ascertain which returns to its original form more 

 readily and more completely, and infer which is the 

 more elastic. 



