HO NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



Examine the twigs. Is there any way of telling how much 

 they have grown in the last year? How are the leaves 

 arranged on the twigs? Are they closer together at the 

 lower end or at the tip ? Where are the buds ? Do you 

 find anything else on the twig ? When you feel confident 

 that the children know the individual tree which has been 

 observed, take them around to see if they can find other 

 soft maples. Ask them to look in yards and along the 

 streets for them. Be sure to call for reports upon such 

 observations the next day. 



Watch carefully for the beginning of change in leaf 

 color. The children will be able to find many beautifully 

 colored leaves on the ground. Let them collect and press 

 a number of these. (They may be preserved for decora- 

 tive purposes by scattering a little powdered rosin over the 

 surface and ironing with an ordinary hot flatiron. This 

 makes the leaves shine and preserves their color. The 

 children are usually much interested. An attractive 

 border above a blackboard may be. made with these leaves.) 



When does your soft maple finally become bare ? Are 

 there any leaves left on the Norway at this time? Note 

 the effect of a heavy rain or wind on the falling of the 

 leaves. Spend a little time on observing the tree after the 

 leaves are all off, giving special attention to the clusters of 

 buds near the ends of the twigs and the single buds on the 

 sides. Make a sketch of a twig with a memorandum of 

 the date. Early in the spring or latter part of the winter 

 tap some of the soft maples. Bore a hole through the bark 

 and a short distance into the wood. Place a spile to drain 

 the sap into a receptacle. The spile may be whittled out 

 of soft wood, being simply hollowed out a little to form a 



