— 3— 



gle for a chance to live among the things of nature is only 

 a type of the same struggle which goes on among animal 

 life and mankind as well. Professor Bailey says of this 

 condition of life that ''Those variations or kinds live which 

 are best fitted to live under the particular conditions". 

 Herbert Spencer, the great scientist called this struggle 

 for existence ''survival of the fittest". You will hear this 

 phrase quoted very often and if it has heretofore not 

 meant much to you, it will be very clear after you have 

 watched your little garden plants in their efforts to get 

 room enough and sufficient food, or after you have seen 

 how the branches and even the leaves of the same tree 

 have the same hard fight for a good foothold and plenty 

 of breathing space. The strong will survive and the weak 

 will be pushed aside and will finally give up the struggle. 



RECOKDING CHANGES. 



When the young plants send up their first leaves, 

 make a drawing in your garden note book of one plant of 

 each variety. Record the number of seed leaves. You 

 will have a drawing as a record of the leaf form of these 

 first leaves and later on when other leaves develop make 

 a second drawing and compare the shape of these later 

 leaves with the first ones that appeared. Also compare 

 frequently the first or seed leaves of the various varieties 

 you have planted so that you can recognize at first glance 

 a lettuce, radish, or other tiny plant. 



It will be interesting to keep a record of various 

 changes which your growing plants make, as for example, 

 the increase in foliage, height of the plant taken at weekly 

 intervals; texture of leaves as compared with the first 

 leaves. Keep a careful watch for any insects that seem 

 to be taking too much interest in your garden. The 

 plants selected for this year's work, with the exception of 



