one piece. To make sure, take a pin and remove it. Note how 

 snugly the pieces are packed together. Wlien you pay your dues, 

 describe how the edges of the outer scales lap over the scales 

 beneatli them, or " break joints ■' as we say about the shingles on a 

 roof. Examine many buds and tell me if you find any that are not 

 perfectly made. On a large apple tree there are thousands and 

 thousands of buds and you will probably not find one which is 

 imperfectly made. Do you tliink that carpenters are usually as 

 accurate in their work ? 



After removing a number of scales or, as we may say, a number 

 of overcoats, coats and waistcoats, you will find the lungs and 

 stomach ready to expand into full size when the tree may require 

 them. Do you suspect that I am speaking in a strange way of 

 something with which you are familiar and which you know by 

 another name ? Do you know that if the foliage is seriously injured, 

 a tree will suifer as much as a person who has dyspepsia or con- 

 sumption ? Perhaps you can now guess what the tree has so care- 

 fully packed away and protected by woolly and furry scales. 



Ask the twio^ to tell its ao^e. 



The age of a cow can be told by the wrinkles on her horns, and 

 you know that old people have many wrinkles in their faces. 



Look at the picture and note the wrinkles shown at B. Have you 

 ever learned what caused them ? That was the location of a 

 terminal bud last winter, and next sunnner there will be wrinkles 

 where bud 10 now is. All the length of the twig from B to 10 was 

 made by the tree during the past summer when it was so busy. 



Now, instead of looking at tlie picture, will you examine a real 

 twig, begin at the terminal bud, and trace its length until you find 

 some wrinkles ? The little twig grew that much longer tliis year. 

 If you are fortunate enough to have one which has had abundant 

 sunshine, you will probably find another set of wrinkles farther 

 back which will show you the length of growth made the summer 

 before. I have been able to count five or six years of growth on 

 some twigs. If you will compare the one you have with several 

 others, you will find that they have not all grown the same length 

 during the past season. What do you suppose has been the cause of 



588 



