the changes produced on it by the warm weather. See if any of its foliage ever falls; or if it changes color in the course of the year. Watch for its flowers and fruit. Observe the appearance of its bark, and whether it looks the same in different parts of the tree.

Make and record similar observations upon a deciduous tree. Describe its winter aspect. What time does it put forth leaves? When does it flower? Does its foliage change in color after it is full grown? If so, how? When does it fall? Compare the bark of its trunk with that of its twigs.* Compare its bark with that of an evergreen.

In the same way watch the progress of a fruittree, after carefully observing its appearance before growth in the spring begins.

Every bush, shrub, and tree, passes each year through a succession of striking changes, which very few people ever observe. Let it be your purpose to see them all.

TWIGS.-The remote ends of the branches.

BUD-SCALES.—The covering of winter buds (Figs. 274, 275).

GROWING-POINT.-The soft extremity of the stem at the centre of the bud, and enclosed in the young unexpanded leaves and the bud-scales a (Fig. 276).

UNEXPANDED LEAVES are found in buds, as seen in Fig. 276.

The time to study bud-scales is in early spring, before the buds begin to swell. At this season gather buds from all the trees and shrubs within your reach.

Observe whether the branches from which they are taken have terminal buds.

Are any of these buds without a protective covering to the growing-point?

Observe in each case whether the scales are membranous, waxy, gummy, lined with down, wool, or dense hairs, or varnished upon the exterior.

What is the use of the gummy matter, varnish, and wax, around the bud?

Of what use are the woolly, downy, and hairy linings of the bud-scales?

What separates the gummed bud-scales when growth begins?

When you are familiar with the winter aspect of the buds upon the trees around, you will be interested in their unfolding. Observe what becomes of the scales on each of the trees you have examined. Scales may be changed into other parts, or they may fall off all together. Observe these changes. Notice the scars left by their fall.

PET'IOLAR Scales are formed from the petiole.

STIP'ULAR Scales are formed from the stipules. FOLIA CEOUS scales are formed from the blade of the leaf.

EXERCISE LXIV.

Vernation.

VERNATION is the way in which leaves are folded, rolled, and arranged, in the leaf-bud.

Observe the buds closely as warm weather approaches. When they are just opening out, examine them to find the various ways in which the young leaves are folded or rolled. If you are watchful at

this time, you will be sure to find them at a moment when the growing leaves have not yet smoothed out the shapes they had while in the bud.

Fresh buds are also constantly appearing throughout the growing season, at the ends of stems and shoots* and in the axils of leaves. Observe the parts of such summer buds, and learn in what ways they differ from winter buds.†

WAYS IN WHICH LEAVES ARE FOLDED AND ROLLED IN THE BUD.

FIG. 277.

RECLINATE, OF INFLEXED'.-Folded from apex to base (Fig. 277).

*SHOOT. Any fresh branch.

Although the science of the folding and arrangement of the parts of buds has been called vernation (from vernalis, spring-time), yet its study need not be restricted to the spring season. All the features of buds illustrated here may be found equally well in summer upon growing plants.