NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



127 



PROPAGATION BY RUNNERS 



CLASS 40 pupils. 

 AGE 9 to 11. 

 TIME 30 minutes. 



{to cultivate power of observation, love of nature, 

 to train reason and judgment, 

 to teach propagation of plants by runners. 



OBSERVATION. METHOD. ILLUS- 

 TRATION 



Ask pupils to visit 

 a strawberry bed and 

 report what they have 

 seen the plant, the 

 fruit, the white run- 

 ners. Or grow plant 

 in a box on class-room 

 window. Ask pupils 

 to examine wild 

 strawberry bed. 

 Watch growth. Re- 

 port observation. 



INFERENCES 



r Small shoots sent out by 



strawberry. 

 Run along ground for a 



distance. 



WHAT ARE I Known by pale green ap- 

 RUNNERS? I pearance. 



Push end downwards 



into soil. 



Root, then send up new 

 plant. 



Some days later (when interest is awak- 

 ened) bring into class, or have pupil bring 

 in, a strawberry plant. (Easily obtained 

 from florist.) Show how plant grows with 

 leaves and fruit closely packed together. 

 Show runners thrown out by plant. Ex- 

 plain that these spread out until they find 

 a suitable place, when they root and throw 

 out new leaves and flowers, and become 

 plant. (Draw while talking and show 

 runners rooting.) 



VALUE OF 

 RUNNER 



Of no value to parent 



plant. 

 At first draws sap from 



parent plant. 

 Are cut off by gardener. 

 At end of season a few 



left to root. 

 After rooting removed to 



make new plants. 

 Grow quicker than from 



seed. 

 Produce healthier plants. 



