Cornell Study Clubs 1203 



used in the making of new growth. By this yearly miracle, taking place 

 in the green leaves of trees and of all other growing plants, the world is 

 sheltered, fed, and clothed. Many are the gifts it brings, and finally 

 it yields its very substance to man for the many uses that experience has 

 taught him. If continual benefits are an indication, a tree is a true 

 philanthropist. 



Appearance of trees in winter 



1 General outlines : whether the bole extends to the top of the tree or forks 



into an open and spreading head ; if the latter, is the head of a rounded 

 outhne, or a long oval, or largest at upper or lower part? 



2 The bark: whether smooth or rough, light or dark, or blotched with 



different colors. If rough, are the ridges and furrows far apart or 

 close together, vertical or apparently diagonal? Or is the bark 

 broken into small ragged plates or scales, or long thin or shaggy ones? 

 Are there transverse sutures or markings? 



3 If the bark is smooth, what is its texture? Does it peel or roll, and, if 



so, does it come off in vertical strips or transversely? 



4 The branches: whether large or small, many or few; and what is the 



angle at which they generally stand to the bole? Do they differ 

 ^in color from the bole or from the twigs? 



Buds and leaf scars 



1 Are the leaf scars and the winter buds opposite each other on the twigs, 



or alternately spaced? This is an important help in identification, 

 as only three of our common trees, the maples, ashes, and horse- 

 chestnuts, have the buds and the leaf scars opposite. 



2 Are the buds large or small, compared with the twig on which they 



grow? Are they short and rounded, or long, pointed, and slender; 

 smooth and shining, fuzzy or woolly, or seemingly covered with sticky 

 varnish? Their color and the number of their protecting scales. 



3 In what ways do the buds at the tips of the twigs differ from those 



that grow at the sides? 



4 Leaf scars : their size, shape, and relation to the bud. This knowledge 



is very helpful in determining species. 



Swelling and bursting buds 



1 The earliest date when buds of any species are noticed to be increasing 



in size; their rapidity or slowness of growth. 



2 The scales: do they persist, or fall away? do they grow, or change in 



shape or color? Note the wonderful folding and packing of the leaf 

 and flower within the protecting scales. 



