306 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



Study 45. The Population of an Old Apple Tree 



An orchard of old neglected apple trees should be selected 

 for this study. A few tools will be needed for common use : 

 saws for bringing down branches; hammers for stripping 

 bark; nets for "sweeping" the foliage to capture flying in- 

 sects; and cyanide bottles to hold specimens pending their 

 identification. 



The program of work will consist of : 



1. A preliminary survey of the trees (to be made while 

 walking among them, by the members of the class observing 

 things together) to discover the location of birds' nests; the 

 work of woodpeckers, of mice, etc. ; the old nests of tent- 

 caterpillars ; fresh defoliation by caterpilalrs; colonies of 

 aphids and scale-insects; the presence of wormy fruit, etc. 



2. A detailed examination (to be made by members of 

 the class individually) of the life to be found on or in the 

 leaves, bark, twigs and fruit of a single tree. Old bark should 

 be stripped off and its crevices examined; new bark should 

 be searched carefully. Every discoloration or deformation 

 of the leaves should be looked into, and fruits should be 

 cut open and searched carefully. Those examining different 

 trees may, with profit, compare results in the end. 



The record of this study may consist of : 



1 . A large diagram of a single apple tree with the location 

 of the members of its population, that affect the green and 

 living tree, indicated (by symbols and explanatory footnotes) 

 upon it. 



2 . An annotated list of the entire population in three parts : 



(a) Transient visitors. 



(b) Resident enemies. 



(c) Parasites and predaceous insects. 



The notes should cover the relations that each species 

 bears to the apple tree. 



