Cvi PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
which has a rather more direct bearing on biological science, and 
which illustrates the relation which meteorology has to the physiology 
of plants. By the middle of March last, a spell of mild weather set 
in, and, thinking that the winter was past, we had a number of trees 
pretty extensively pruned. Amongst others, a large sycamore tree 
had its lower limbs cut off. A few days after, the new sap began to 
rise in the stem, stimulated, no doubt, by the mild weather. At the 
end of March, however, the temperature suddenly fell, and on Friday, 
29th March, the thermometer stood at 16 0 F., indicating 16 degrees 
of frost. The consequence of this was that the sap, which had begun 
to flow freely from the ends of the severed limbs, became frozen, and 
hung in icicles from the branches fully two feet in length. The 
effect produced was very beautiful, and served at the same time to 
illustrate in a striking manner an important feature in the life-history 
of the plant. 
THE MUSEUM. 
Before concluding, I wish to refer very briefly to the increasing 
recognition which Museums are receiving at the hands of our 
Educational authorities, as aids in the teaching of Nature Knowledge. 
For example, H. M. Inspector of Schools, in reporting on the 
Preparatory Department of the Academy, says :—“ Miss Raffan is 
always on the outlook for new educational ideas, and there is always 
some fresh and attractive feature in her teaching. In connection 
with the subject of Nature Study the children have had ten excursions 
to the country. An excellent supply of material for illustrating the 
lessons has been supplied, and further specimens are easily obtained 
from the Natural History Museum.” In addition to this I might add 
that Miss Raffan has on several occasions brought her classes to the 
Museum for practical demonstrations in front of the cases. 
During the past summer, the International Association for the 
Advancement of Science, Arts, and Education held their meetings in 
Glasgow, when I had the privilege of reading a paper on Regional 
Museums, with special reference to the use of Museums in elementary 
education. In a discussion which followed, I was much struck to 
find how much interest was beginning to be taken in this subject in 
various parts of the country. One Inspector of Schools from the 
south of England told me that he had been working very much on 
the same lines as we have been doing here, and that he would 
recommend to his friends in the south our plan of Museum Essay 
Competitions. Speakers from Manchester and from London also 
expressed similar views. At the meeting of the British Association, 
also, Sir John Gorst, in his Inaugural Address to the newly 
constituted section of Education, emphasised very strongly the 
importance of Natural Science teaching in Elementary Schools, 
particularly in country districts, and the necessity for practical 
demonstrations to accompany such teaching. I have reason to 
believe that ere long we shall see even fuller recognition given by the 
State to Local Museums, as important factors in the educational 
machinery of the country. Possibly from this may arise a scheme 
for the more adequate support of these institutions. 
