106 



Hickories open very late in the season. The Norway Maple, com- 

 monly planted on lawns, behaves in a similar way. Observe the 

 Sugar Maple. 



A twig of the common elm is show^n 



I in Fig. 67. Notice the 



" ring." 



See 



the two kinds of buds. We suspect 

 that the three large ones are flower- 

 bnds. With the very first warm days 



— before the robin has built her nest 



— these three buds will l)urst; soon 

 the red-brown tassels will hang on the 

 leafless twigs. Each tassel is a flower. 

 Several flowers come from each bnd. 

 We see them in Fig. 68 : and the 

 leaf-buds have elongated somewhat. 



(to.— Shoot Watch for the fruits or seeds that 



^-^ ^* blow about the walks so early in 



hickory. 



i 



66. — The opening of a 

 hickory hud. 



spring; and note how the leaves come out. 

 With the first breath of spring, tlie "pussy willows" come. 



67. — Twig of elm. 



68. — Blossoms of the elm. 



And what are the " pussies ? " They are clusters of flowers. So 

 snugly are the little flowers wrapped in wool, that the " pussies" are 



498 



