FOREST TREES. 187 



hidden lie the embryo blossoms enclosed in cases, sealed and impervious 

 to the action of wind, tempest, rains, and biting frosts, that might other- 

 wise injure the precious treasures concealed within their warm, protecting 

 bosoms. Some of these leaf and flower buds are covered with a 

 varnished, odorous gum as in the Balsam Poplar ; others lined with soft, 

 silky hairs as the long, taper buds of the Beech ; some with brown wool? 

 as the Elm, the Moose-wood, the Willows, the silky catkins of which 

 are seen in the \V'inter, and many others. 



Take a Small bunch of the common Red-berried Elder, and open 

 the round knobby buds, that appear soon after the leaf has fallen, andlo! 

 there within the leafy cradle that encloses them, lie closely packed, the 

 numerous greenish-white flowers, waiting for the warm breath of May 

 and June to call them forth and expand the cymes of perfect, closely- 

 packed, but undeveloped, blossoms, to the sun-light and the Summer 

 breeze. 



Are not such things worth looking for ? Should they not fill our 

 hearts with wonder, love, and praise to Him whose infinite wisdom has 

 ordered all things rightly ; who careth for the creatures he has called into 

 life, yea, even for the humblest herb and the grass of the field. 



In some trees and shrubs the swelling of the new buds is not so 

 apparent as in those that I have mentioned, but still the process is going 

 slowly and secretly on, even when hidden from observation. 



Paper or Canoe Birch. — Betida paj^yt-acea, (Ait). 



"Where weeps ihe Birch of >iilver liark 



With long dishevelled hair."" 



* » » * » » * * * * 



" Where thelight Birch its loose tresses is waving."' 



The catkins of the Birch are formed almost as early as the leaves 

 fall. The little, hard, scaly, close-pressed catkins, in threes, appear at the 

 ends of the branches, and may be seen all through the winter months 

 increasing and swelling as the ascent of the sap is felt, till in the months 

 of April and May the yellowish blossoms appear and the long waving 

 tassels flutter in the wind, giving an air of lightness and grace to the 

 slender branches, and making the Birch one of the most graceful and 

 attractive of all the trees of the forest. The Birch, with its snow-white 

 bark and branches, when seen among the Pines and Evergreens, forms 

 a delightful contrast with its airy lighter foliage, to their dark sombre 

 colour and stiff outlines. 



The White Birch springs spontaneously on neglected clearings and 

 waste lands ; it is hardy, easy of culture, and truly a great ornament at all 

 times and seasons of the year. 



