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Home Nature-Study CouRsfi. 



When the leaves are full grown those of the Butternut lose their stickiness but 

 never beconie smooth ; when rubbed between the finger and thumb they feel like 

 soft flannel, though their coat of down is so fine as to need a lens to bring it to view ; 

 the Walnut leaves are thinner and are smooth to the touch. This difference in 

 texture of the leaves is one of the readiest means of identification of either tree 

 and may help to make certain of the species even when so yoimg as to be still 

 smooth of trunk and bearing neither flowers nor fruit. 



OBSERVATION HIVE. 



An observation hive in the schoolroom is an object of greatest in- 

 terest to the pupils, as through its glass sides they may be able to verify 

 for themselves the wonderful tales concerning the lives and doings of 

 the bees which have been told us by naturalists. Moreover, the study 

 thus made of the habits of the bees is an excellent preparation for the 

 practical apiarist, and the editor believes that bee-keeping is one of the 

 ways by which the boys and girls of the farm may obtain money for 

 their own use. 



The observation hive is very simply constructed and can be made by 

 any one who knows how to use ordinary carpenter tools. It is simply 

 a small ordinary hive with a pane of glass on each side which is covered 

 by a hinged door. A hive thus made is placed so that the front end 



rests upon a window 

 sill ; the sash is lifted 

 an inch or so, a strip 

 of wood, or a piece 

 of wire netting being 

 inserted underneath 

 the sash except in 

 front of the entrance 

 of the hive to hinder 

 the bees from coming 

 back into the room. 

 A covered passage 

 way should extend 

 from the entrance of 

 the hive to the out- 

 side of the window 

 sill. This window 

 should be one which 



opens away from the 

 An ordinary bee hive made into an observation hive . , 



by adding glass sides and doors. playground so that 



