ee them grouped together, subordinating their individuality
and helping to blend into a beautiful composition with a character
all its own. There is nothing more inspiring than the variety of
greens in the spring foliage, the diversity of color in the spring
blossoms and the wonderful display of autumnal tints offered by the
sweet gum, sassafras, dogwood, black gum, red maple, sugar maple,
scarlet oak, blue beech, sorrel tree, ash and gingko. The white bark
of the gray birch, the dark bark of the black oak, the gray of the
beech, the golden yellow of the mulberry and the mottled bark of the
sycamore are interesting comparisons. The smooth bark of the
mockernut hickory contrasts greatly with the shaggy bark of the
shagbark hickory--members of the same family and yet how different.
A wonderful opportunity is thus offered for a comparative study of
human nature--individuality and community life, all reflected in
trees.

With this preliminary study and with the addition of some remarks on
the value of trees as health givers and moral uplifters, the child
is interested and attracted. The lesson so far has attained its aim.

2. Specific observations with a view to training the observative powers:
The child's training in closeness of observation and scientific
precision may be the next consideration. His enthusiasm will now
prompt him to lend his interest for greater detail. We can teach him
to recognize a few of the common trees by their general
characters--an American elm by its fan-shaped form, a gray birch by
its white bark, a white pine by the five needles to each cluster, a
horsechestnut by its opposite branching and big sticky bud and a
willow by its drooping habit. After that we may introduce, if the
age of the pupils justifies, more details extending to greater
differences which distinguish one species from another.

The lesson might continue by pointing out the requirements of trees
for water and light. Find a tree on some slope where the roots are
exposed and another which is being encroached upon by its neighbor,
and show how in one case the roots travel in search of water and
food and in the other the branches bend toward the light, growing
more vigorously on that side. Compare the trees on the open lawn
with those in the grove and show how those in the open have grown
with