158 Lessons in Nature Study. 



are the needles? How wide?* What color are they? 

 Were there any needles on the ground under the tree ? 

 What color were they ? When does the pine-tree shed its 

 needles ? 



IV. Pine-cones. 



This is the fruit of the pine-tree. What do we call such 

 a fruit ? See if you can find a thin scale inside your cone. 

 These are the seeds of the pine. Do you find a clear 

 sticky substance on your cone ? This is what ? Resin. Did 

 you ever see a baby cone ? In a few days we will take 

 another walk and try to find some. Now let us dip our 

 cones in this water and leave them there until recess, and 

 we shall see what happens to them. 



(Later.) What has happened to the cones ? Yes, they 

 have shut up very tight. What made them do this ? Do 

 cones close when it rains ? Why do they do this ? By 

 closing the little seeds are often loosened, and so scattered 

 on the ground. Can you find a seed in your cone ? What 

 does it look like ? Yes, it looks somewhat like a maple-key 

 or elm-seed. Why did nature give the pine-seed a wing ? 

 Let us throw it up and see if it will fly for us. Name some 

 plants which have seeds with wings. What would happen 

 if the pine had no wings to its seeds ? 



SECOND WALK IN EARLY SPRING. 



Take a little wider range in this walk, but do not go too 

 far. Remember that there is such an abundance of material 

 near by that it is not wise to go far. Let each child carry a 

 small box in which to put his collections. A baking- 

 powder box is excellent for this purpose. The teacher 

 should have a pocket microscope also. 



Call attention to the different kinds of clouds woolly 

 (cumulus), feathery (cirrus), etc.; point out how the woolly 

 ones are lower, how they are drifting. Tell them the tale of 

 Apollo's sheep. Get them to note the various birds seen in 

 passing. Point out the different trees along the way. Col- 



