Teachers' Leaflet. 



625 



THE STRAWBERRY. 



Preliminary zcork. — Give some history of tlie common garden strawberry, 

 which was taken from Chili to Europe nearly a hundred years ago, and from 

 thence imported to America, although it is native to the western mountain regions 

 cf both North and South America. It has been so improved by cultivation and 

 crossing with other species that it is a much more prolific and useful plant than its 

 wild progenitor. 



Ask pupils to note such differences as they are able to discover between the 

 cultivated and wild strawberry. Nearly everyone knows the fruit in its season, 

 but few, even of those who cultivate it, know what an interesting plant it really is. 



Photo by Verne Morton 

 The wild straz^'bcrry. 



LESSON LXXI. 



THE PLANT. 



Purpose. — To quicken the pupil's ob.servation as to how the plant 

 grows, sustains and propagates itself. 



Materia!. — A strawberry plant with roots antl runners attached, for 

 the observation of the class ; for each puj^il a leaf, so carefully removed 

 fri;m the plant as to show its clasping sheath and stipttles. These may 

 readily be found, even in early spring, for the strawberry retains its green 

 crown the seasons' round. The best roots and leaves for study will be 

 found on a young plant, the first on a runner to take root. 

 Ohscrvaiions by pupils. — 



(i). What kind of root has the plant; that is, has it a single tap- 

 root, or is it branching or fibrous? 



