16 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
might reasonably be expected to describe from actual specimens 
the appearance of simple leaves, e.g., the leaf of a plane tree 
would be described in some such way as the following—‘‘ This 
leaf has a pretty long leaf-stalk, and a wide blade; its surface is 
smooth ; the lower surface is lighter in colour than the upper one. 
The blade is divided into five parts, each of which ends in a point ; 
a large vein starting from the upper part of the leaf-stalk runs to 
the point of each division ; the veins stand out further from the 
under surface than from the upper surface. The margin of each 
of the five divisions has in it a number of deep cuts,” etc., ete. 
The accuracy of description, the terminology, and the amount of 
detail required will depend entirely on the progress of the class. 
In all these lessons pupils should be encouraged to bring speci- 
mens, but not in anaimless way. For instance, after a lesson on leaf 
margins, the leaves to be brought would be those having a 
‘special bearing on this part of the subject only. If there is time, 
the contributions should in all cases have a few words bestowed 
on them; the contributors might be asked where they obtained 
the leaves, the name of the plant, where it grew, etc., ete. 
Almost any New Zealand bush will furnish examples of the 
types of leaves referred to. 
The simpler forms should in all cases be drawn by the pupils on 
slates, special attention being paid to proportion and detail. The 
pupils, moreover, should be encouraged to press and dry the leaves 
between sheets of paper; much useful material which would always 
be available for reference could in this way be collected. 
IV.—LEAVES—Part 2: 
Division of the Blade—Simple and Compound 
Leaves. The margin of the blade, as we have seen, may 
be entire, or may be cut into by incisions. These, often of 
considerable depth, tend to modify the form of the blade, 
and split it up into a number of lobes. The depth and 
shape of the sub-divisions vary a good deal. For instance, 
the incisions in the Oak are shallow, in the Hawthorn 
somewhat deeper, and in the Buttercup extend almost to 
