180 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
7. A study of rootstocks. — Dig up a wild morning glory and observe 
carefully the white underground stem, how it creeps along and spreads 
and how new plants spring from it; see how these rootstalks differ from 
real roots. Follow the same plan with other plants in your vicinity that 
have rootstocks, as June grass, Austrian brome grass, Canada thistle, 
sow thistle, quack grass. Find out which of these are difficult to kill. 
8. How to kill the dandelion by cutting off the top. — Select a number 
of dandelions in a suitable spot where you can observe them from day 
to day for a few weeks. (1) From one of them cut off only the leaves, 
close to the ground. (2) From another cut off merely a thin shaving 
from the top of the root. (3) From others cut off 4 inch, 3 inch, and an 
inch. In this way find out how 
ie : ; much must be cut off in order to 
gorillas kill the plant. 
9. Weed societies. — Make a 
list of weeds growing in some 
limited area, as the school yard, 
your garden, or some neglected 
corner that has formerly been 
cultivated; note the great va- 
riety that may sometimes be found in a small area. 
to. Oral and Written Composition. — These topics are especially 
suitable : 
a. A common weed. — Description of any weed with which you are 
acquainted. Give more interesting details than are found in the brief 
descriptions in this chapter. Project No. 2. 
b. A study of rootstocks. — No. 7. 
c. My fight with the dandelions. — Report on Project No. 8, and any 
other experience you have had in trying to kill them. 
d. My summer in a garden, or a season’s campaign against the weeds. 
List of all the weeds found in your garden, which were the most persist- 
ent, how often it was necessary to use the hoe, etc. No. 9. 
Rootstock oF WILD Morninc GLoRY 
