952 



Rural School Leaflet 



Bark, 



the fir, but have in mind the following: Norway spruce: Bark, reddish 

 gray; needles, four-sided; cone, long, light brownish yellow. Balsam fir: 

 light gray and frequently has blisters that contain liquid resin; 



needles, flat, with light gray 

 streak on the underside; cone, 

 dark purple when young, dark 

 brown when ripe. 



One of the trees for study this 

 year, often taken for an ever- 

 |AWi» green, is the tamarack. When 

 s you see one in summer you 



Balsam fi r might think it is an evergreen 



because the leaves are needle-like and the tree bears cones. If 

 you watch one, however, you will find that it sheds its leaves in winter. 

 To me there is no more attractive tree than a little tamarack. Many 

 of you have read " Hiawatha " and will remember what he says when he 

 speaks to this tree: 



" Give me of your roots, O Tamarack! 

 Of your vigorous roots, O Larch-Tree ! 

 My canoe to bind together, 

 So to bind the ends together 

 That the water may not enter, 

 That the river may not wet me! " 



Look for a tamarack (called also a larch) in your neighborhood, and, if you 

 find one, watch for the leaves and blossoms in the spring; for a tamarack 

 does have blossoms and you will find them very wonderful in color. 



Be sure that you write to Mr. 

 Tuttle this month and tell him 

 whether you have read " Snow- 

 bound," whether you have looked 

 through a seed catalog, and whether 

 you have studied the evergreens 

 in your neighborhood. 



Now it is growing late and you 



will all have to run home. I shall 



. , , ., TT Tamarack, or larch 



watch you from my window. How 



wonderful the out-of-doors is in the starlit night! The sparkling snow, 



the rugged, leafless trees, the whistling wind, all in touch with your brave 



young hearts. 



