n8 A FIELD GUIDE IN NATURE-STUDY 



Propagation. Let each pupil learn how to make a cutting and then cut 

 a slip from a geranium plant and plant it in damp sand or root it in water. 

 Try the same with Wandering Jew, petunia, heliotrope, and ivy and plant 

 the window boxes with some of these. (See below.) When the shrubs 

 and trees are pruned use the trimmings to make cuttings and start them 

 indoors in pots so that they will be ready to set out fully leaved in the 

 spring. Find out how to make cuttings of currant, raspberry, blackberry, 

 grape, and of ornamental shrubs. Find out what "layering" is and try it. 



Pruning. Read up on the topic of pruning or, better, watch some 

 skilled nurseryman and draw here t a diagram of a fruit tree to show how it 

 should be pruned and also one of an elm. Diagram the proper method of 

 pruning a grapevine and of training it on the trellis. Look up and describe 

 the proper method of pruning currants, raspberries, and blackberries. 

 Prepare to prune shade trees, fruit trees, small fruits, and ornamental 

 shrubs, marking with chalk the places at which the branches are to be cut 

 so that the work may be inspected before branches are actually removed. 

 Save the branches removed for cuttings (above) and also for grafting 

 (below). 



Get information from books in regard to the proper method of pro- 

 cedure in grafting and budding. Briefly describe it or diagram it here. 

 Practice grafting or budding on some of the branches and twigs obtained 

 from the pruning. Then when some skill is acquired, try it on trees and 

 bushes in the garden. If such are not available or are considered too 

 valuable to chance injury by incompetent workers, try grafting wild pin 

 cherry on black cherry, hawthorn on wild crab, cultivated cherry on the 

 wild, cultivated crabs on wild crab, or seedling tomatoes on pot-grown 

 potatoes indoors. 



Window gardens. The window garden must have good drainage, free 

 access of air to the roots, and an abundant water supply coming to the 

 roots from below. Devise a window box providing these and diagram it 

 here. 



Look up in books on window gardening a list of the best annuals and 

 perennials to grow in the window box, selecting those that thrive best as 

 well as those that are readily handled by pupils. Fill in the lists on the 

 opposite page, classifying them as annuals and perennials. 



Provide each pupil with part of a window box, if possible; if not, have 

 one at least for the class. Plant it with annuals raised from seeds and 

 bulbs or perennials from slips and cuttings, considering character of foliage, 

 time and color of blossoms, so as to insure a box that will be in good taste. 

 Either in portions of the window boxes or in pots plant indoors the seeds 

 of apple, pear, cherry, peach, plum, and quince, so as to have good-sized 



