134 



TALKS AFIELD. 



-<;si:^ not ex- 



^,^^^^£ii pect to 



flowers on bare or 



1::,(^ sere - leaved branches in 



October. 

 The flowers of the witch-hazel 

 wither with the nearer approach 

 of winter; in early spring the 

 dried remains of the petals still 

 clothe the branches. With the 

 advent of warm weather the 

 nuts begin to form, and by the 

 next autumn they are mature, as 

 shown at a, Fig. 93. These 

 nuts often cling to the branches 

 when the flowers appear, afford- 

 ing the only instance, probably, 

 Fig. 92. in the North, of a shrub which 

 bears conspicuous fruit and flowers at the 

 same time. The 

 nuts possess a 

 peculiar interest. 

 Through the ac- 

 tion probably of Fig. 93. 

 alternate dryness and moisture they split 



