460 NATURE-STUDY 



with grasses. Note hollow stems, joints, leaves. Grains 

 are a kind of grass. Some timothy,* wild rye,* quack-grass,* 

 or other grass may still be found in flower. Make a general 

 study of the flowers, noting pendulous anthers and feathery 

 styles. Note the hollow stems, the joints, and sheathing 

 leaves. There are very many kinds of grasses. The grains 

 are cultivated grasses. Corn is also a grass. Refer to grass 

 as fodder. (References on grasses and grains: 213, 230, 154, 

 156, 159, 152, 193, 161.) 



The wheat crop: Cultivation, harvesting, threshing, 

 milling, commerce, wheat regions. Importance to the world. 

 Dependence of the cities upon the farmer. (225, 227, 236, 

 313, 316, 222, 228, 320, geographies.) 



TREES : Distinguish * red, white, bur-oak, and mountain 

 ash * (173, etc.) 



The orchard * : What kind of trees are in it ? Which is 

 the most important? Care of orchard. Picking and ship- 

 ping fruit. (238, 232, 246.) 



How the forest * benefits man : Make simple. Lumber, 

 fuel, fruit, nuts, game, wind-breaks, holding back the rain- 

 water, protecting the soil. What enemies has the forest? 

 The lumberman, the farmer, fires, wind-storms, insects. 

 Former extent of woods in the vicinity. What has become 

 of them? Scarcity of wood for fuel and lumber. Neces- 

 sity of preventing waste and of reforesting. Very briefly 

 tell how forests may be planted and preserved (220, 219, 222, 

 227.) Distribution of forests, prairies, and plains in the 

 United States. Character of vegetation in each. Reasons 

 for this vegetation. Distribution of the conifers and hard- 

 woods. Bring out relation of trees to climate, especially 

 moisture. (Geographies, 327, 475^ 475^ 220, 219.) 



