Tree Study 



195 



Method — At least one pine tree should be studied in the field. Any 

 species will do but the white pine is the most interesting. The Austrian 

 pine which is commonly planted in parks is a good subject. The leaves and 

 cones may be studied in the schoolroom, each pupil having a specimen. 



Observations — i. What is the general shape of the pine tree ? Is there 

 one central stem running straight up through the center of the tree to the 

 top. Do you find any trees where this stem is divided into two or three 

 near the top? Describe how the pine tree grows. What is the "leader?" 

 What happens if the leader is injured ? How do the topmost branches of 

 the young pine look ? Do the}^ all come ofE from the same part of the stem ? 

 How many are there in a whorl? 



2. What color is the bark ? Is it ridged or in scales? 



3 . Do the branches come off the main stem at right angles or do they 

 lift up or droop down ? Where is the foliage borne on the branches ? What 

 is the color of the foliage? Is the pine foliage ever shed or does the pine 

 leaf, when it comes, stay on as long as the tree lives ? 



4. Study the pine leaves. Why are they called needles? Note that 

 they grow several together in what we call a bundle. How many in one 

 bundle? Is the bundle enclosed in a little sheath at the base? Are the 

 bundles grouped to make distinct tassels ? Study one of the needles. How 

 long is it? Is it straight or curved? Flexible or coarse and stiff? Cut it 

 across and examine it with a lens. What is the outline in cross section? 

 Why does the wind make a moaning sound in the pines ? 



5. Study a pine cone. Does it grow near the tip of 

 the branch or along the sides? Does it hang down or 

 stand out stiffly ? What is its length ? Sketch or describe 

 its general shape. Note that it is made up of short, 

 over-lapping scales. What pattern do the scales make as 

 they are set together ? Describe or sketch one scale ; has 

 it a thickened tip ? Is there a spine at the tip of the scale ? 



6. Where in the cone are the seeds? Describe or 

 sketch a pine seed. How long is its wing? How is it 

 carried and planted? When the cone opens, how are the 

 seeds scattered ? What creatures feed upon the pine seed ? 



7. Study the pine when in blossom, which is likely to 

 occur in June. This time is easily determined because 

 the air around the tree is then filled with the yellow pollen 

 dust. Study the pollen-bearing flower. Is it conelike in 

 form? Does it produce a great deal of pollen? If you 

 have a microscope, look at the pollen through a high 

 objective and describe it. How many of the pollen cat- 

 kins are clustered together? On what part of the twigs 

 are they borne? Where are the pistillate flowers which 

 are to form the young cones? How large are they and 

 how do they look at the time the pollen is flying ? Do they 

 point upward or droop downward? Why? Look beneath 

 the scales of a little cone with a lens and see if you can find 



the flowers. What carries the pine pollen to the flowers in the cone? 



8. Name all the uses for pine lumber that you know. Write an 

 English theme on how turpentine is produced from pines and the effect of 

 this industry upon pine forests. Where does resin appear on the pine? 

 Of what use is it to the tree? Do you think it is pine sap? What is the 

 difference between resin and rosin? 



White pine cone. 



