644 Home Nature-Study Course. 



of motherhood is so strong that in a few years it may encroach on ad- 

 jacent territory, but that tendency is easily controlled by the mattock. 

 The red fruit growing at the ends of the branches and the content of 

 tannin will serve as subjects for object lessons and as such will receive 

 more attention when planted on the school ground than when growing 

 in fence corners and among stone piles. It has two ways for extend- 

 ing its occupation of the soil, first by extension of roots and sending up 

 shoots and second by dissemination of seeds. The first is the one the 

 farmer considers tlie most aggresive. 



The Lilac is a desirable shrub for the school ground, as it blossoms 

 before the close of school in June. When once firmly established it will 

 take care of itself against most other competitors, needing but an occa- 

 sional pruning. It has seed of course but the usual methods of propa- 

 gating are by cutting, layering and by division. If the plant is of 

 several years' growth shoots spring up about the main stalk, some- 

 thing after the manner of the sumac but not with the same aggressive- 

 ness. In neighborhood distribution these shoots are dug for planting. ' 

 Before the young lilac can make much growth fine roots mu.st be de- 

 veloped. Moisture is an important factor in doing this and if the soil is 

 not naturally moist the shoots should be kept well watered until root 

 growth has started. If some leaves or straw is placed around or an in- 

 verted basket or pail is placed over the lilac for two weeks, thus pro- 

 tecting the soil from loss of moisture, favorable conditions will follow. 

 This is an opportunity for the children to distinguish leaf buds from 

 blossom buds. Do not fail to cut the stem back leaving not more than a 

 foot standing above the groimd. Often blossom buds do not appear 

 until three or four years after planting. The blossoms of the spring of 

 1908 began developing as buds in the summer of 190T. If pruned in 

 the spring before blossoming the flower buds will be cut away and lost. 

 When pruning is necessary do it immediately after blooming has passed 

 and no blossom buds have formed. 



The Rose is considered the aristocrat of flowers, but all varieties are 

 not suited to the school ground conditions. The earliest to blossom is 

 yellow in color. The " thousand leaf " rose when once established holds 

 its own fairly well, yet it am])ly repays the kind offices of a friendly hand. 

 It produces seeds, but it is propagated by that means only by growers in 

 search of new varieties. Nurserymen and florists propagate roses by 

 cutting or layering. The latter is comparatively easy for chilren to do 

 and afifords a practical lesson in garden craft. As soon as school opens in 

 September choose some of the longest canes and cut a slit on the under 

 side then bend it to the ground and hold firmly in place by weighting 

 with stones, as shown on page 11. Cover the cane over the slip with three 



