66 How a Tree Lives 



CHAPTEK VIII 



HOW A TREE LIVES 



LESSON 1 



Season. Second week in February. 



Materials required for each pupil (or each pair 

 of pupils in the first and second questions). 



Two Bunsen burners. Two tripods. One piece of 

 wire gauze. One sand bath. Several four oz. flasks or 

 beakers (about 3 in. deep). Porcelain dishes (about 

 3 in. across). Watch glasses. Pestle and mortar. One 

 funnel and stand. Filter papers. Glass rods. Dis- 

 tilled water. A small heap (about a salt-spoon full) of 

 salt, soda, borax, nitre and other substances to be 

 examined, on separate pieces of paper with the name 

 on each. Two glasses. One soft and one woody twig. 

 Measuring glasses. One celandine or wild arum leaf. 

 Pieces of narcissus stalk about 2 in. long. 



If you were asked what things are most necessary to 

 keep a man alive you would answer air, food and water, 

 and you might add that for him to be healthy he also 

 needs plenty of sunlight. The same thing is true of 

 trees and of all other green plants. Part of the food 

 that a tree needs is to be found in the earth, and, as it 

 has to pass all over the tree, it can only be used when it 

 is dissolved in water. 



Put about a teaspoonful of salt into a glass of water 

 and stir it well up. In a few minutes it has quite dis- 

 appeared and the water is clear again. Taste the water 



