Teachers' Leaflet. 477 



THE CHESTNUT. 

 LESSON XLV. 



THE LEAVES. 



Preliminary Work. — No extraneous interest need be added to t'.ie study of 

 the chestnut if the pupils have access to the country. Ahnost anything that the 

 teacher can tell them about this favorite tree or can teach them about its ways 

 of life would be sure to be well received. 



Purpose. — To enable the child to know the chestnut leaf as soon as 

 he sees it. 



Observations. — There are very few leaves that look at all like the 

 chestnut leaf, although the leaves of the yellow chestnut oak resemble them 

 somewhat. There is no way to fix the shape of a leaf in the mind like 

 drawing it. In the upper grades the drawing should be made of a twig 

 with the leaves on it to show their alternate arrangement, and much care 

 should be given to making the toothed edges with bristled points and 

 concave scallops between. 



References. — The tree books referred to above. 



LESSON XLVI 



THE CHESTNUT FRUIT. 



Purpose. — To get the pupil to see the way chestnuts grow. 



Material. — The chestnut bur. 



Observations. — The outside of the bur is very spiny and this protects 

 the young, growing nut from attacks of squirrels. Induce the pupil to 

 think that the reason for this protection is that the chestnuts may mature 

 and be planted and grow up into other chestnut trees. Note that the 

 inside of the bur has a velvety lining, which makes a soft wrapping for 

 the young and tender nut. Note how difficult it is for us to open the 

 bur ; then study a bur opened by the frost. There are four hinged doors 

 which Jack Frost swings open. 



In studying the chestnut itself observe the following: The marking at 

 the large end, which shows where the nut was fastened to the bottom of 

 the bur. Notice by the shape of the nut how many grew in a bur ; if 

 only one it will be large and almost round ; if two each one will be approxi- 

 mately half a sphere; if three there will be one with two sides flattened. 

 A chestnut should be planted where it may be observed and the seedling 

 tree studied. In connection with tlie chestnuts and acorns, tlie habits 

 of squirrels and chipmunks sin mid 1)- studied and the assistance which 

 these animals incidentally give to planting the nuts in localities quite 

 distant from the mother tree. 



