LABORATORY WORK 253 



student's knowledge, and will give him more 

 confidence in himself and in his subject. 



5. Finally, this subject should not be left 

 without giving the student an opportunity to 

 describe one or two samples from every class 

 of fruit commonly grown in his neighborhood. 

 To this end cherries may be preserved in for- 

 malin, salycilic acid, or other preservative 

 solution; and any other fruits likely to fail 

 during term-time should be kept in stock in 

 the same way. Even strawberries and black- 

 berries can be kept in condition sufficiently 

 sound for this purpose if proper pains are de- 

 voted to them. Many teachers of botany and 

 zoology do all their laboratory vork with 

 dried or preserved materials ; the horticultur- 

 ist ought not to shrink from an occasional 

 exercise of that sort. 



Exercises in Identification 



6. Place several well-known varieties on a 

 table, and require the student to name them 

 at sight. Begin with two or three varieties 

 only, but add others rapidly. Apples are 

 naturally best for these exercises, but plums, 

 peaches, grapes, and pears are also valuable 

 where they are available in sufficient numbers. 



