376 Home Nature-Study Course. 



bear these ovules naked, simply lying between the scales of the 

 cones, and they are called " Gymnosperms, " which means "naked 

 seed." 



Lesson on Evergreens. 



1. How do evergreen trees grow? 



2. What is the leader? 



3. How does each year's growth affect the height of the tree and length of 

 branches? 



4. If a branch on a tree is ten feet above the ground now will it be stiU higher 

 twenty years from now? 



5. Do evergreens shed their leaves? When? 



6. Is the vegetation under evergreen trees the same as under deciduous trees? 

 Why? 



Take any cone whatever for this lesson. 



7. What is a cone? What is its shape? 



8. What sort of a flower is a yovuig cone? 



9. How many scales are there in the cone you are studying? 



10. Show by a sketch or description the shape of one of the cone scales and its 

 markings. 



11. How are these scales arranged in the cone? 



12. Where are the seeds in the cone? How are they distributed? 



13. How are the evergreens useful to birds? 



TAI^-ES FOR DETERMINING OUR COMMON CONE-BEARING 



TREES. 



A. Leaves drop off in winter. Larch. 



AA. Leaves remain on trees all winter. 



B. Leaves in bundles enclosed in a short sheath at bottom. Pines. 

 BB. Leaves opposite or in whorls. 



C. Spray flat. Arbor vifce or White cedar. 



CC. Spray four sided. Red cedar. 



BBB. Leaves alternate, scattered along the stem. 



C. Winter buds covered with resin, looking as if varnish had 

 been brushed over them. Leaves flat. Fir. 



CC. Winter buds not resinous. 



D. Leaves four sided. Spruce. 



DD. Leaves flat. 



E. Whitish beneath, short, flat, blunt. Hemlock. 



EE. Leaves lighter green underneath, longer, pointed. 



A low shrub. Yew or Ground Hemlock. 



