306 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 
Study 45. The Population of an Old Apple Tree 
An orchard of old neglected apple trees should be selected 
for this study. A few tools will be needed for common use: 
saws for bringing down branches; hammers for stripping 
bark; nets for ‘‘sweeping’’ the foliage to capture flying in- 
sects; and cyanide bottles to hold specimens pending their 
identification. 
The program of work will consist of: 
1. A preliminary survey of the trees (to be made while 
walking among them, by the members of the class observing 
things together) to discover the location of birds’ nests; the 
work of woodpeckers, of mice, etc.; the old nests of tent- 
caterpillars; fresh defoliation by caterpilalrs; colonies of 
aphids and scalc-insects; the presence of wormy fruit, etc. 
2. A detailed examination (to be made by members of 
the class individually) of the life to be found on or in the 
leaves, bark, twigs and fruit of a single tree. Old bark should 
be stripped off and its crevices examined; new bark should 
be searched carefully. Every discoloration or deformation 
of the leaves should be looked into, and fruits should be 
cut open and searched carefully. Those examining different 
trees may, with profit, compare results in the end. 
The record of this study may consist of: 
1. A large diagram of a single apple tree with the location 
of the members of its population, that affect the green and 
living tree, indicated (by symbols and explanatory footnotes) 
upon it. 
2. An annotated list of the entire population in three parts: 
(a) Transient visitors. 
(b) Resident enemies. 
(c) Parasites and predaceous insects. ‘ 
The notes should cover the relations that each species 
bears to the apple tree. 
