8l2 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



records one actual measurement of forty-five feet. The children should 

 note that the surface of the seeds is very polished and smooth, and the way 

 they are discharged may be likened to that by which an orange seed is shot 

 from between the fingers. 



LESSON CCVII 

 The Witch-Hazel 



Leading thought — The witch- 

 hazel blossoms during the autumn, 

 and thus adds beauty to the 

 landscape. It has an interesting 

 mechanism by which it can shoot 

 its seeds for a distance of many 

 feet. 



Method — This lesson divides 

 naturally into two parts; a study 

 of the way the seeds are distributed 

 is fitted for the primary grades, 

 and a study of the flower for more 

 advanced grades. For the pri- 

 mary grades the lesson should 

 begin by the gathering of the twigs 

 which bear the fruit. These should 

 be brought to the schoolroom — • 

 there to await results. Soon the 

 seeds will be popping all over the 

 schoolroom, and then the question 

 as to how this is done, and why, 

 may be made the topic of the 

 lesson. For the study of the flower 

 and the shrub itself, the work 

 should begin in October when the 

 blossoms are still in bud. As they 



expand they may be studied, a lens being necessary for observing the 



interesting little doors to the anthers. 



Observations — i. Is the witch-hazel a shrub or a tree? 



2 . What is the color of the bark ? Is it thick or thin, rough or smooth, 

 dark or light, or marked with dots or lines ? Is there any difference in color 

 between the older wood and the young twigs? Is the wood tough or 

 brittle? Dark or light in color? 



3 . Do the leaves grow opposite each other or alternate ? On what part 

 of the plant do the leaf buds grow ? 



4 . What is the general shape of the leaf ? Is it more pointed at the base 

 or at the tip ? Are the leaves regular in form, or larger on one side than the 

 other? Are the edges entire, toothed or wavy? Are the petioles short or 

 long? Are the veins straight or branching? Are they prominent? Are 

 the leaves of the same color on both sides? 



5. Are there many queer-shaped little swellings on the leaf above and 

 below? See how many of these you can find? Tell what you think they 

 are. 



6. Do the flowers grow singly or in clusters? What is the shape and 

 color of the petals, and how many of them are there in each blossom? 



Flowers and fruit of witch-hazel. 

 Photo by G. F. Morgan. 



