Rural School Leaflet 1389 



The specimens for the illustration were collected in the university 

 woodlots, which have been placed under the management of the Depart- 

 ment of Forestry. The rough bark was taken from the stump of a tree 

 that had been cut last winter, while the smooth-bark specimen was cut 

 from a branch and shows very clearly the difference in the bark of the 

 trunk and the limbs of a single tree. The specimens of wood were 

 cut four and one-half inches long, and about three inches ^vide by three- 

 fourths of an inch thick. The longitudinal section can be smoothed 

 oft" with a plane or a drawshave. The cross section, which will show the 

 annual rings of growth as well as the presence or absence of heartwood, 

 should be about three-fourths of an inch thick and three or four inches in 

 diameter. The leaves, flowers, and fruit of most species will have to be 

 collected at different seasons and added to the mount to complete the 

 story of the tree. 



The wood specimens in the illustration were tacked to the cardboard 

 with No. 8 cut tacks. Leaves and seed of the broad-leaved trees may be 

 fastened with stickers and glue. Attention is called to the two pine cones 

 in the white pine mount. It talces two years for the white pine cone to 

 mature, and the small cone shows the average size of cones at the end of 

 the first season. The mature cone was secured to the cardboard by run- 

 ning a twine string around each end of the cone and through the cardboard. 



In order to show the marked difference in the appearance of the bark 

 of young and old growth, it is suggested that specimens be collected, 

 showing these differences, and that they be mounted side by side as shown 

 in the picture. For the schoolroom collection, the specimens can be 

 mounted on ordinary cardboard mounts 10 x 12 inches in size and hung 

 from a nail through the top, in the schoolroom or cabinet. 



The exhibit for Farmers' Week in this class should show specimens illus- 

 trating the various parts of a single species of tree. It would be most desir- 

 able, perhaps, to select some tree given in the list for study this year. On 

 page 1343 attention is called to the necessity for teaching children to respect 

 property rights in making their collections. Opportvmities for securing 

 a desired specimen will arise naturally on some of the woodlots in the 

 community, and the boys and girls should be ready to take advantage of 

 these occasions, but should refrain from mutilating a tree simply for the 

 purpose of securing specimens. 



2. Bird's nest mount 



Very few birds use their nests the second season ; therefore it is perfectly 

 legitimate to collect and make a study of abandoned birds' nests in the 

 fall of the year. The study will be more worth while if the nests are 

 discovered during the spring and summer while the birds are still in them, 

 so that identification is certain. One bird's nest should be mounted 

 securely on a clean stiff background to which there should be attached a 

 brief description of the bird and its nest prepared by gjie of the pupils 



