Teac:hers' Leaflet. 



515 



LESSON LXXIX. 



HOW TO MAKE CUTTINGS FROM GERANIUMS. 



Purpose. — To familiarize the children with the best way to make 

 the cuttings and start them growing. 



The smaller side branches or the tip of the main stem, if the plant 

 shows a tendency to grow too tall, may be used as cuttings. With a 

 sharp knife make a cut straight across. Fill shallow boxes with sand, 

 which is kept damp, and place them in a cool room. Plant the cuttings 

 in these boxes, putting the stem one-third its length into the sand. After 

 about a month the plants maly be repotted in fertile soil. The fall is 

 the best time to make the cuttings. (See Cornell N. S. Vol. p. 370.) 



THE BALSAM FIR. 



Preliminary Work. — This tree is a native of Canada and the northern United 

 States; it has been quite extensively planted as a shade tree around farm houses, 

 and in village yards and parks. It is a tall, slender, and almost black pyramid; 

 its low^er branches are likely to lose their leaves and look very untidy unless 

 trimmed ofif. 



LESSON LXXX. 



STORY OF THE BALSAM FIR. 



Purpose. — Through an informal 

 talk to give the pupils an interest 

 in this tree and the regions where 

 it is native. 



Its range is frotn Labrador 

 through Canada and New England 

 to Minnesota and south along the 

 mountains of Virginia. Let the 

 pupils draw a map of this region 

 outlined. The balsam grows on 

 mountains at an altitude, often of 

 five thousand feet. It also flour- 

 ishes in alluvial or swampy soil. 

 Its leaves are very fragrant and its 

 fragrance is healthful ; for this 

 reason the leaves are stripped off 

 the boughs to fill pillows ; so health 

 giving is its aroma that it is often callec 



Balsam fir. 



P.alm of Gilead fir." Woods- 

 men also prefer the balsam branches for making their beds in camps ; 



