386 Junior Naturalist Monthly. 



almost everywhere you will find Baldwins. Very choice varieties, like the 

 Newtown Pippins, are sold at high prices in the large cities for dessert 

 fruit, and are also sent abroad. I think that you may be able to make sure 

 of a round dozen distinct varieties. 



With people, we never call ourselves friends imtil we know the name 

 and c[uality of each acquaintance. It should be the same with the apple. 



" A Russet apple is fair to view, 



With a tawny lint like an autumn leaf, 

 The warmth of a ripen'd corn-field's hue. 



Or golden hint of a harvest sheaf; 

 And the wholesome breath of the finished year 

 Is held in the wine-sap's blooming sphere." 



— Hattie Whitney. — St. Nicholas. 



A STUDY OF APPLES 



Secure as many different kinds of apples as you can and have them 

 on the teacher's desk. How many of the different varieties can you name ? 

 Make a list. It will be of interest to Uncle John to know how many you 

 have been able to find in your locality. 



If you do not know the names of the apples that you have, write out 

 some of their characteristics as follows: 



Size. 



Color. 



Alarkings, 



Shape. 



Color of flesh. 



State whether the apple is juicy; whether it is tender; whether it is 

 crisp. 



Is it flat or does it taper at the blossom end ? 



Is the skin tough, tender, waxy, oily? 



Is the apple you are describing plentiful at this season of the year? 



How many different apples do you know that keep a long time ? 



- MORE ABOUT THE PIGEONS 

 The pigeon house of which we spoke in the last Leaflet has been 

 finished and the children have chosen the site. The home is now ready for 

 the playmates that are to come. We are planning to place young pigeons 

 in the house because they will be less likely to return to their original 

 home, and they will also be more easily trained. Pigeons are capable of 

 caring for themselves when they are five weeks old. 



Perha])s you would like to know what we shall feed the pigeons. We 

 shall give them grains : millet, oats, rye, Kaffir corn, peas and barley. For 

 one pair of birds a handful a day is enough. When birds are kept in 

 confinement, they should be supplied with charcoal, cracked oyster shells, 



