The Teachers' Corner 



The potato is of such great importance at the present crisis in the world's 

 history that it should be a topic for a nature-study lesson in every school 

 in the land. Professor Vinal's admirable outline will prove an inspiration 

 to all teachers of nature-study and gardening. For the lower grades — when 

 the teacher cannot take up the more thorough study of this useful tuber — we 

 suggest the following observation lessons: 



The Plant 



A spray of leaves from a potato plant for each pupil and if obtainable the 

 teacher may have some of its cultivated or weed relatives such as the tomato 

 or the egg-plant for comparison. 



i . Is the plant really a vine as it is often called? 



2. Is the stem round or angular, smooth or rough, hairy or prickley? 



3. Do the leaves grow opposite each other on the stem or alternately? 



4. Are the leaves simple or compound? 



5. Are the leaflets of about the same size or regular as to their number? 



6. Are the stems and leaves soft and juicy or woody and fibrous? 



The Flower and Fruit 

 A spray of potato blossoms. Seed-balls are very rare of late years but an 

 occasional one may be found and studied. 



1. What are the color of the blossoms? 



2. How are the flowers arranged in the clusters, in a spike or many branched? 



3. Describe the parts of the flower; how many sepals form the calyx? Has 

 the corolla separate petals? How many stamens are there and how are they 

 placed? 



4. Is the flower fragrant? 



5. What color and shape is the flower? 



6. When cut open how many seed-cells are found within? 



7. What is the shape of the seeds and are they many or few? 



8. Is the fruit pleasant to the taste? 



The Tuber 

 One or two potatoes for each pupil, preferably of different varieties — long, 

 globular, and with different colored skins. 



1. Where does the potato grow? 



2. Has the potato a smooth surface like an apple? 



3. Are the "eyes" distributed regularly on its surface or scattered hap- 

 hazard? 



4. Where are the eyes most numerous, on sides, near the stem, or at the 

 opposite end? 



5. Is the skin thin and paper-like, or rough and netted? 



6. Where do the sprouts start when the potato begins to grow? 



7. Are any rootlets attached to the potato as to beets and turnips? 



8. Of what is the flesh of the potato mostly composed? 



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