comstock EVERGREENS n 



Lesson on the hemlock— Describe the tree. Do the branches extend straight 

 out or droop at tips? Describe the foliage. Describe or sketch a hemlock cone. 

 Are the cones borne at the tip or on the side of the branches? Does the cone 

 mature in one season? Describe or sketch the seed. What industry has caused 

 the destruction of the hemlock? For what parts of building construction is it 

 used? What is its special value as building timber? 



Ground hemlock — This is a low straggling shrub not more than four 



or five feet high, which has foliage resembling that of the hemlock, 



except that the leaves are longer and bright green on both sides. 



However, it is not a hemlock at all, but a yew and its fruit is a red 



berry. 



Lesson on ground hemlock— In what direction do the branches extend? Is there 

 a main stem? Is the berry edible? How is the seed distributed? 



CORRELATION OF THE STUDY OF EVERGREENS WITH OTHER 



STUDIES 



With history — In glancing across the wood covered hills of New 

 York State one often sees stretching far above the other trees the 

 gaunt top of an old, white pine. Such pine trees belonged to the 

 forest primeval, and may have attained the age of two centuries or 

 more ; they stand there looking out over the world, relics of another 

 age when America belonged to the red men, and the bear and the 

 panther played or fought beneath them. The cedars live longer even 

 than do the pines, often reaching the age of three hundred years. 



Perhaps nothing so naturally turns the attention of the pupil to past 

 events as the thought that the life of such a tree has spanned so 

 much of human history. If you have one of these old trees in your 

 vicinity make its life-history the center of a story of local history ; let 

 the pupils find when the town was first settled by whites, and where 

 they came from ; what Indian tribes roamed the woods before that, 

 and what animals were common in the forests then. Bring out the 

 chief events in the history of the county and township ; when were 

 they established and for whom or what were they named. What are 

 the industries of the present village or township, and are they the 

 same as they were a hundred years ago. 



With geography — Where are the cone-bearing trees most numerous ? 

 To what climates and soils are they best adapted? Why? (Roth, 

 pp. 32-40.) Where are the forests of cone-bearing trees found in 

 America? (Roth p. 211.) How is the'pine used to reclaim the sea- 

 shore in France ? (Roth.]). 19S.) Is there a difference in the species 



