760 



Handbook of Nature-Shuiy 



Method — This study may be begun in the fall when chestnuts are ripe. 

 Ask the boys to describe the trees from which they get this longed-for 

 harvest. The leaves, burs and nuts may be studied in the schoolroom. 



Observations — i. Where do chestnut trees grow? What is the general 

 form of the head of the tree? How high is the trunk below the branches? 

 Do the branches divide into fine twigs or spray at the tips ? 



2. Sketch and describe a chestnut leaf, showing the veins, edges and 

 petiole. Are the leaves placed opposite or alternate ? What is their color 

 above and below? How do the chestnut leaves differ from those of the 

 beech and of the chestnut oak ? What is the color of the chestnut foliage in 

 autumn? 



3 . Where on the branch is the bur borne ? How does the green chest- 

 nut bur look? Why is this prickly exterior beneficial to the fruit ? Does the 



Chestnuts in burs. 

 Photo by Verne Morton 



bur open easily when green? What causes the chestnut bur to open? 

 Into how many lobes does it open? Describe an open bur outside and in. 



4. Where in the bur are the chestnuts set? How many in one bur? 

 How can you tell by the shape of the chestnut whether it grew as a twin or 

 single in a bur. Are there ever three in a bur? If so, what shape is the 

 middel one? Do the burs fall when the chestnuts are ripe? 



J. Take a single chestnut. Describe its shape and color. What is the 

 mark on its large end? Describe the coloring and covering of the tip. 

 Open the shell and note the lining. Describe how the meat is finally pro- 

 tected. Can you see where the germ is? Plant a chestnut and watch it 

 grow. 



6. Study the chestnut blossom in late June or July. What kind of 

 blossoms are those which look like yellow stars all over the tree ? Study one 

 of the catkins which makes a ray of the star, and describe it. Can you see 

 the anthers and the pollen ? How many of these pollen-bearing flowers are 



