382 Home Nature-Study Course. 



63. How is this arrangement of the twigs on the branches useful to the tree in 

 its native cUmate? 



64. Do the Norway spruces when standing in the open show any bole below 

 the branches or do the branches grow to the ground? 



HEMLOCK. 



The hemlock during its youth and middle age is the most graceful 

 and beautiful of all our evergreens, and in its old age it is the most 

 picturesque. There is no prettier sight in all the tree world than a 

 symmetrical, vigorous hemlock, when the new growth of vivid, 

 light green tips every twig, making exquisite contrast to the dark, 

 dull green of the older foliage. And there is no such picture of old 

 age and loneliness as the old hemlock towering above its fellow trees 

 with its upper branches bare and black extending helplessly toward 

 the four winds of heaven. It is a pity that a disease has attacked 

 our hemlocks in New York, and is surely though slowly killing all 

 that are mature. It is as if they were discouraged at the wanton 

 destruction of their species by man and die rather than suffer the 

 ignominy of the ax. 



Lesson on the Hemlock. 



65. Describe the tree. 



66. Do the branches extend straight out or droop at tips? 



67. Describe the foliage. 



68. Describe or sketch a hemlock cone. 



69. Are the cones borne at the tip or on the side of the branches? 



70. Does the cone mature in one season? 



71. Describe or sketch the seed. 



72. What industry has caused the destruction of the hemlock? 



73. For what parts of building construction is it used? 



74. What is its special value as building timber? 



GROUND HEMLOCK. 



This is a low, straggling shrub not more than four or five feet 

 high, which has foliage resembling that of the hemlock, except 

 that the leaves are longer and bright green on both sides. However 

 it is not a hemlock at all, but a yew, and its fruit is a red berry. 



Lesson on Ground Hemlock. 



75. In what direction do the branches extend? 



76. Is there a main stem? 



77. Is the berry edible? 



78. How is the seed distributed? 



