The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-10-22
Johnny Begins to Study Botany.

Johnny Begins to Study Botany.
Johnny is an initiative little fellow.
Whenever he sees any one doing any
thing, he is very apt to want to do it,
too. He came the other day to my
summer study-room in the hay-barn
on the hill, where the air is always
fresh and oool-and found me busy
with alot of plants that I had gathered
IN the woods that morning. He looked
on curiously for a little while, then
asked what [ was doing that for.
" Doing what?"
Why picking all those weeds to
pieces and putting them away in those
big books"
"I'm afraid you haven't been look
ing sharp, replied Ct don't put
away those ] pick to pieces.''
Johnny was still again for two or
three minutes, then he broke out with,
-" What do you pick them to pieces
for" 4, :
I told him they we're plants that were
new to me, and | was, studying them to
learn what they were like and what
their relations, were. H..
Relationst Do plants have .rela-
tions?" = ! - =
Certainly" I replied. -
"That's queer! And is that the way
you learn so much about them :"
Johnny asked. ea
"Chiefy." Me~
" L wish I could do that" he said,
after another period of silent watching.
$50 20 can. :" G
"When %
amy time; now, if you want to-.
Wan you show me how?"
" With pleasure.
Right away?"
Right away"
"Well," said Johnny, after waiting
awhile, I'm ready"
$50 am I.
But don't know what to do" said
Johnny. M
You must get your plants frst,"
"Where ?"
"Anywbere-opt in the garden, if
you like" ly
Johnny ran to the garden, and was
soon back again with his hands full of
leaves and stems.
g VIII these do ?" he asked.
Suppose you wanted to study AMI
mails, and should give you the ear of
a dog, the tail of cat, and a piece of
sheepskin to begin with do you think
they would help you much 2"
Johnny laughed at the idea of such
funny mess, and said he thought a
whole. dog would be better.
ga good deal BETTER" said I 4" and
whole plant would be better than all
these pieces"
Cant you tell me what their names
are from the pieces 2"
L could" I replied, "but names
are not what you are to study. You
are to study plants
"Of course" said Johnny, not
knowing what else to say.
81 will go with you, said, "and
show you how to get something to
When we reached the garden, I
stopped to dig up weed that few boys
IN the country do not know something
about-purslain, or, as it is commonly
called, l2osJey.
What is the use of taking that?"
inquired Johnny. Everybody knows
what that is"
"We'll take it, for all that" T said {;
perhaps we may learn something
about it that you nevernoticed before. !"
That's catnip," said Johnny, as I
began to dig up another plant tn at
stood near the first "You aren't
a-going to take that, are you?''
"Why not?
"Cause, said Johnny, "Ive known
catnip ever since L can remember"
" Shut your eyes," said L. CHOW
tell me what kind of stalk catnip
has"
''Why," said Johnny, hesitating
It's Just 1,,s. Hke ~ stalk"
No; pusley hasn't any stalk it
just sprawls on the ground"
Like mullen stalk ?"
mo, said Johnny 8" not like that. +"
Like corn stalk or thistle ?"
Not like them, either" said Johnny.
LIS like guess 7 don't remember
exactly what it is like"
NOA R4OW CdUQlD SO VIGIL
as you thought" said I. -
" These two will be enough to begin
WITH" I continued. "Studv them
carefully, and when have finished with
my plants I will come to see now YOU
get on"
Johnny soon tired of studying bv
himself, or may be he did not find yery
much to learn at any rate it was but a
little before he stood at my table, plants
in hand.
"Well," I said, as I put away my
work, "what have you discovered :"
"Catnip-stalk is square," said The
young botanist.
GOOD" said | anything more p
"It smells" said Johnny.
What like? ?"
"Like-like catnip-tea, "said Johnny
Very like, indeed, said l. "What
else have Won loornnd 90