154 Education through Nature 



7. The apple-tree is a rather hardy plant, adapting 

 itself quite readily to circumstances. It grows best in a 

 comparatively dry, sandy soil. That is to say, its fruit is 

 apt to be larger and more palatable under such conditions 

 because then there is less inducement for the very great 

 development of the roots and stem, a thing that always 

 takes place in an extremely moist soil. While not requir- 

 ing very great care in comparison with that necessitated 

 by many other trees, the apple-tree, if neglected long 



w A Divided Apple. 



will produce very tiny fruit. Its branches grow more up" 

 right, and the twigs become spine-like. The trunk is 

 generally quite sturdy and strong, not easily broken by 

 wind-storms, though often the shape of the whole tree is 

 bent so as to become one-sided, on account of the wind. 



8. The honey-bees and yellow-jackets are the insects 

 found in the greatest numbers about apple-trees. They 

 are harmless, however, and aid in the fertilization necessary 

 for reproduction. Often the caterpillars will take pos- 

 session of an apple orchard and destroy all the leaves and 

 fruit, leaving nothing but the bare branches of the trees, 

 which but a short time before were beautiful masses of 

 green foliage and fruit. 



9. The family to which the apple-tree belongs is the 

 Rosacece. Related to it we find the common and familiar 

 strawberry, blackberry, rose, pear, and cherry, all exhibit- 

 ing great variety of shape and size, and yet similar enough 

 to be placed in one single group. 



