626 Home Nature-Study Course. 



(2). What color is the root? Do you notice any difference in color 

 between the roots of the young plants on the runners and those of the 

 parent plant which grew the previous season? 



(3). Has the plant a stem? 



(4). How are the leaves arranged; that is, are they in a circle or 

 whorl, or one above another, rising to an apex? 



(5). Describe the base of the leaf and the way it is attached to 

 the plant. 



(6). Is the petiole or leaf-stem round or angular, solid or hollow, 

 smooth or hairy? 



(7). Has each leaflet a pedicel or stem of its own, or does it grow 

 directly from the main stem ? What is the number of the leaflets ? What 

 is their general shape? Draw a leaf as well as you can. 



(8). Describe the edges of the leaflets. Are they toothed all the 

 way round ? 



(9). Describe tlie veins and leaf surfaces. Are the leaves alike in 

 color on both sides? 



(lo)-. From what part of the plant do the "runners" spring? 

 (11). When do the runners begin to grow ? 



(12). Does the runners strike root before forming a new ])lant or 

 does the little plant grow on the runner and draw sustenance from the 

 parent plant? 



(13). What happens to the runners after the new plants have estab- 

 lished themselves ? 



(14). Does the parent plant survive or die when the family of young 

 plants is established ? 



Facts for teachers. — The root of the strawberry is fibrous and thread-like. 

 When growers want plants for setting new strawberry beds, they are careful to 

 take only such as have light colored and fresh-looking roots. On old plants the 

 roots are hard, black and woody, and such are undesirable for planting, having 

 been exhausted by the maturing of at least one crop of fruit and the putting 

 forth of runners. 



The stem of the plant is partly underground and so short as to be unno- 

 ticeable. However, the leaves grow alternately, one above another, so that the 

 crown rises as it grows. The base of each leaf has a broad, clasping sheath which 

 partly encircles the plant and extends upward in a pair of ear-like stipules. The 

 leaf-stem when young is round, soft, and thickly covered with fine hairs, but as 

 it lengthens and grows older it flattens a little and when mature develops a slight 

 groove on the upper side. Each leaflet is a reversed oval in shape, deeply toothed 

 on sides and large end, but entire when forming the pointed base. They arc 

 three in number and each has a tiny stem or pedicel of its own. The veins are 

 light colored, very prominent nn the lower side but forming depressions on the 

 upper surface, v.diich is a much darker green than the under side of the leaf. 



The runners begin to grow after fruiting has ceased and spring from the 

 outer part of the crown. They are strong and fibrous and hairy when young. 

 Some are short "between joints," others seem to reach far out as if seeking for 



