In addition to the dandelion, the following plants are suitable for observation exercises: morning-glory, wild balsam, sweet-pea, snap-dragon, nasturtium. DWARF NASTURTIUM ~Observations.~--The size of the plant at the time of flowering; its leaves--size, colour, shape, length of petiole and how arranged; colours found in the flower, comparison with others of same species found in the garden; size and shape of the flower and the length of its stems. Do the flowers grow higher than the leaves? Do they look better when with the leaves or when alone? Note the perfume and taste of the flower stem, the insect visitors, and what part of the flower they tried to get at, when the first blossom was seen, and how long the blossoms continued to come out. Do they keep well in bouquets? Do they stand hot, dry weather as well as other flowers? When did the frost kill them? Compare with the climbing nasturtium. Find the seeds. SEEDS The autumn months are the best for seed studies, for almost all annuals are ripening their seeds at this time of year. FIELD EXERCISE Assign to the pupils the following exercise: Collect the seed pods from as many plants of your garden plots, or home gardens, or wild plants, as possible, and be careful to write the name of each plant on the paper in which you put the seed pod of that plant. Notice the part of the plant from which the seed pod is formed. CLASS-ROOM LESSON BASED ON THIS COLLECTION The pupils place the seed pods on their desks, and observations and problems are dealt with of which the following are representative: How does each seed case open? What are the seeds for? How many seeds are in each case? Why should a plant have so many seeds? How are the seed cases fitted for protecting the seeds? Are any two seeds alike in shape? Are the seeds easy to find if they are spilled upon the ground? What makes them hard to find? Where do nearly all seeds spend the winter? Of what use is the hard shell of the seed? SEED DISPERSAL Study only a few of the more striking examples of seed dispersal with the Form I class. Seeds that fly and seeds that steal rides are good examples of classes of seeds whose methods of dispersal will prove of interest to children. LESSON ON SEEDS THAT FLY ~Materials.~--A milkweed pod; a ripe dandelion head. ~Introduction.~--A short conversation about the effects of the crowding of plants, as carrots and turnips, in a garden plot, and hence the need for the scattering of seeds. ~Observations.~--Open a milkweed pod in the presence of the class, so that they may see how the pod opens, how beautifully the seeds are arranged, and how the silk tufts are so closely packed in together.