Prof. W. J. Beal
With the conditions in our part of the state of Michigan, I should say that, nine times out of ten, I regret that a student has had any botany when he comes to college; but, if one claims to have had botany, I place before him a stage microscope with two needles in handles, a pair of forceps and usually a small knife, with pencil and paper and five living plants in flower for him to examine. I examine his notes; and, if he has done well, all right. If he comes to the college, I wish him to be able to use his instruments accurately and effectually. A good deal of stress is laid on the ability to see things correctly. I should like him to be familiar with the buds of plants and growing things and the comparison of seeds, both dry ones and those that have been wet for a little while as well as those that have been wet longer.
In our state we have no money for bulletins on nature study; but at the request of the board I have prepared eight of these bulletins under the head of elementary science. I must apologize to you for their appearance. They are printed by the state at their expense. The type is poor and the paper coarse and heavy, but I should be glad to send them to any one who wants them. My talk in the section has been entitled " How shall a young person study botany?" which is a sequel to the New botany, printed in 1879. This New botany has been revised two or three times. By addressing the Rural New Yorker, New York, you can get copies for 10 each.