OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 71

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

FOR SENIORS AND JONIORS. (Conducted by Magistee, to -whom ail communications must be addressed.) [Magisieb will bo glad to receive Nature notes, marked papers containing educational articles, diagrams, details of experiments, etc., of scholastic interest to teachers* and pupils. Correspondents must use ONLi one side of the paper, and whether using & pen name or not. must send both name and ADDEEsa.] SEED DISPERSAL. Elsewhere I said I might give a brief note or two on this sunjcct. Perhaps I should have given them a week or two ago; the season, however, is late, and a good supply of seeds can still be gathered. A linen tester or other pocket microscope will increase the interest when specimens are being examined. ... . , Seeds are distributed mainly by wind, water, mechanical action, pr by animals. Wind. —Dandelion, celmisia, thistle (note the pappus; millions of seeds floating on the harbour this year), sycamore, maple, lime, elm, birch, pine, fir, ash, clematis, bulrush, etc. Water.’ —Note edge of any stream, and see how docks, thistles, etc., are growing alongside; the oocoanut can stand perhaps months of soaking and be carried hundreds of miles. Mechanical Action.—ln peas, beans, etc., the inner lining of the pod, the grain of which runs diagonally, becomes tense and elastic, and with a twist when it bursts ejects the seed to some distance. Stocks, flax (Phormium tenax), wallflowers, scatter somewhat similarly. Look for violet seed. Note how the poppy pod provides doors with overhanging eaves, and by swinging in the wind scatters the seed as if out of a pepper dredge. The Eurodiums (Crane’s Bills), and the Stipa ponnata seed are Marvellously structured. In these we have a sharp-pointed seed head which can easily bo pushed into the ground, but is prevented from coming out by the barbs which act like the barbs of a fishhook. To this is fastened a close spiral and on the end of that a long feather. When the seed is ejected the feather helps to take it some distance, when it falls like a dart. When wetted the feathery part sticks to some object, and the spiral unwinds, and in so doing pushes the seed end in. The squirting cucumber is a curious example of propulsion. Examine geraniums. Animals.—The piri-piri (bid-a-bid), bur dock, the uncinia (one of the sedges), and the burs generally are good examples. The teaslo used in woollen mills might be noted. Mimicry.—ln the Nature Series, published by the Macmillans, there is a most interesting volume, “ Flowers, Fruits, and Leaves,” by Sir John Lubbock, Bart, F.R.S., M.P., D.C.L., LLD., now known better os Lord Avebury. In one chapter ho tells us of seeds mimicking birds’ feet, bulls’ heads, centipedes, worms, caterpillars, beetles, spiders, ticks, and so on. The inference is that birds ere deceived by these and by pecking at them change their location. .Uet me recommend a book or two. “ Nature Study and the Child ” contains good notes on the dandelion and other good nature subjects —vegetable and animal. Otago teachers in particular ought all to read Thomson’s “ A New Zealand Naturalist’s Calendar,” and j-ust now section four of the March chapter; and teachers throughout the Dominion, and even beyond it, will find the same author's “ Introductory Class-book of Botany for use in Now Zealand Schools,” which is well illustrated, full of observation and information. All teachers should have access to “ Plants of New Zealand.” “The Story of Plants” by Grant Allen, I can recommend; and aa insect life is inseparable from plant life read “The Origin and Metamorphoses of Insects” by Sir John Lubbock mentioned above, and in the same series. Get, too, Grant Allen’s “ Flashlight from Nature.”

SPELLING REFORM IN VICTORIA. Last month Mr Tate, the Director of Education for Victoria, by a simple announcement -in the Victorian Education Gazette and Teachers’ Aid, exploded a bombshell in the Victorian educational camp, and examiners say they will fail students who follow his instructions. Under the heading “ Simplified Spelling ’’ we read: “ At the Imperial Education Conference hold m London last year the following resolution was carried unanimously: That this conference is of the opinion that the simplification of spelling is a matter of urgent importance in all parts of the Empire, calling for such practical steps in every country as may appear most conducive to the ultimate attainment of the end in view—the creation in

connection with tbe subject of an enlightened public opinion, and the direction of it to the maintenance, in its purity and simplicity. among all English-speaking peopes, of the common English tongue. “ For some time past a majority of the inspectorial staff, though not in favour of drastic measures in the direction of spelling reform, has also advocated the taking of some steps towards the adoption of simplified forms of certain words. “ The director has therefore decided to take the following action in the direction desired, and has given instructions that m all printed matter issued by or for the Education Department the following rules as to spelling are to be observed: 1. Omit the useless “u” in_ honour, favour, etc., and all their derivatives — e.g., write honor, labor, parlor, favor, arbor, harbor, vapor, armor, behavior, endeavor, color, etc. 2. Put “ er ” for “re” in meter, center. 3. Use “ e ” for “se ” in esthetic, cyclopedia, etc. . . 4. Use termination “ise” in lactonze, legalize, modernize, etc. . 5. Use gram, program, plow, jail, connexion, etc.

“ Tho British Philological Society and the Oxford English Dictionary recognises the use of the forms given above.” As a result of this regulation the Argus was flooded with letters for and against. The -main reasons , given against, as far as- I have seen them, The eye being accustomed to tho present system (or want of it) great confusion will be the result of making any change; (b) the reformed spelling, in many oases, will tend to destroy the identity of the word with its root. ’ Tho reasons for, in addiion to those already given, arc —(a) In the United States we have nearly 100 millions who have adopted the reformed spelling to a much greater degree, and as American books, periodicals, and ,letters come into the British Empire. As these find no inconvenience. and as many British-—and among them men of the highest authority in philology—want the reformation, it is no educational freak but a step forward; (b) tho out-of-date spelling is now ueedin a minority of whites speaking tho Enchsh language; (c) tho standardising of spelling will bo a benefit to the English-speaking and writing world; (d) children will be able to overtake a year’s more work in their school life; (c) the change does not introduce any new letter signs nor any diacritics; (f) English is a growing organism, and must adapt itcelf in spelling to the changing times. Directly it stands stiu English will commence to become a dead language; * (g) tho disguising of Ihe rod docs not concern the average citizen. It appears to me that reformers have reason on their side. I shall be glaxl of any for or against, for the subject is an important one. Young folk might remember that it was the introduction of printing that dialect as literary English, and that before printing came in there was no standard. Cun anyone lend me the Melbourne University Magazine for last June? ihe subject is dealt with there, I believe.

CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES. Wairoa School, H. 8., April 12. Dear “ Magister,”—l have much pleasure in forwarding the following March records: Rainfall: March 2nd, 1.2/in; 3rd 1.61 m; 4th, ,15in; 6th, .21in; 7th, .01m; 10th, .41m; 12th, .23in; 13th, .08in; 18th, .34m; 19th, 02m 20th, ,12in; 21st, .15m; 22nd, .12m; 23rd ,16in. Total, 4.78 in on 14 days. Total for 1912 to March 31, 12.70 m on 35 days. Previous records show: March, 1907, 3.29 m; March 1908, 12.46 in; March, 1909,3.29 m; March, 1910, 12.45 in; March, 1911, 6.83 m; March, 1912, 4.78 in. Temperature: Maximum, 79deg on March 4 ; minimum, 42deg on 13th; average of maximum, 72.2 deg; average of minima, 55.0dcg; average at 9 a.m., 59.05 deg; average at 1 p.m., 67.7dcg. Atmospheric pressure: -Maximum barometer reading 30.1 deg on 4th, 19th, and 29th; minimum, 29.2 deg on the 7th. Prevailing winds: Westerly (N.W. and S.W.), with much dull weather. —I am, etc., John Bowie, 8.A., Head Master.

Dear “ Magister,”—Last year we observed in our garden a "new plant which bore very large leaves, a foot or more in length, and of a heart shape. The situation being considered unsuitable, the plant was moved and it died down, reappearing in the spring. Growing vigorously, it threw up a flowering head, and then proved to be the bur dock (Arctium lappa), Cheeseman says it is not uncommon from north to south. However, it was not included in the old Field Club’s catalogue, and I have never seen it in my rambles. I have no wish to make my garden a distributing centre for a new weed, so please ask your readers if this has proved to be a pest. The involucre is armed with sharp hooks, which readily cling to the clothing. Formerly the root was used for rheumatism, and the stalks, when young, were oaten boiled and as salad. The plant is described as a roadside one, and generally of a dusty appearance, but in the flower border it proved to have a striking and bold appearance before flowering. The flowers are of a dingy purple and not very pleasing. It belongs to the compositae.—l am, etc., Student.

“ Student” sends along an interesting note on a bur plant which is making itself known in and around Dunedin. It is now a capital time to study seed dispersal. The spines of the involucre (the bracts surrounding the flower, as seen in the thistle, for instance) mentioned by “ Student,” are even surpassed by the barbed spines of the Uncinia, one of the common sedges, for these bracts are veritable grapnels. The piri-piri (bid-a-bid. bidi-bidi, or biddi.bid) has a barb almost as difficult to get rid of when once it gets a hold. The overland to Milford route gives a good instance of the spread of the bid-a-bid by the kicking of the feet when walking, and by the carrying qualities of socks, of men’s trousers, and women’s skirts. Elsewhere in my columns to-day I may have a note or two on seed dispersal. I published my meteorological note earlier than usual this month, so that accounts for Mr Bowie’s notes occupying the isolated position they do. I am sorry to have to hold over the notes promised last week. I’ll try to get them in next week. •'I have some book notes, too, I want to get in.