1204 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



3 The buds of the cone-bearing trees ; how they differ from those of other 



trees. 



4 In what condition must be the buds of such fruit trees as the peach 



and the plum, to be blasted by freezing? Explanation of the fact 

 that a sheltered hollow is not so good a location for a peach orchard 

 as an open upland. 

 Roll call. — Favorite wood for burning, particularly in open fires. Reason. 



Forcing of twigs in water — Grafting, budding, and pruning 



1 Although it is well to watch nature when she is " taking her time " 



at her work, it is sometimes a convenience to hasten her. Large 

 twigs of most trees will unfold their buds very quickly when brought 

 indoors, placed in jars of water, and kept where it is warm and light. 

 The buds may then be studied more frequently and closely. 



2 Grafting. This is usually done before the sap starts in the spring. It is 



a process requiring a deft hand to match cambium to cambium and 

 women should be able to do it well. Why not get the neighborhood 

 expert to teach the members of the club? Many an apple or pear 

 tree continues to bear " scrubs " because the men folk are too busy 

 to change its nature by grafting. 



3 Budding: though usually done in late summer, it may be done in early 



spring before the sap flows so freely as to drown the buds ; the process 

 at least might be learned at the earlier season. 



4 Pruning: nature's ways of doing it; how man has improved on her 



process. Why not secure a teacher and learn details ? Much depends 

 on a tree's growing right when young, and the work is healthful and 

 not too difficult for a woman, with the low-headed trees now preferred, 

 which can be worked from a stepladder. 



The unfolding of the leaves 



1 Whether the leaves precede or follow or come at the same time as the 



flowers. Differing habits of different species. 



2 The varying colors of young leaves as they grow: on white oaks they 



are a lovely pink, and " gray hossches' nuts' leetle hands unfold, 

 softer'n a baby's be at three days old." 



3 Whether the leaves are downy, hairy, woolly, or sticky when young, 



and whether the condition is more or less persistent. By noting this, 

 one can at any time distinguish the butternut from the black walnut. 

 Note whether there is a fragrance or any odor from the leaves when 

 crushed or bruised. 



4 The development of the leaf stems: stipules, whether present or not, 



and whether persistent or transitory. 



