CHAPTER IV 



CATKINS 



At the end of January, long before the leaf 

 buds wake up from their winter sleep, the hedge- 

 rows and woodlands are once again producing 

 those quaint, floral structures known as '' catkins." 

 Throughout February, March, and well into April 

 their variety increases, one species of tree after 

 another putting forth its blossoms. Many people 

 quite overlook the fact that our forest trees all 

 bear flowers ; in fact it may be said that all British 

 plants produce flowers, excepting ferns and mosses 

 and still lower forms that we need not consider. 

 Probably some of my readers will feel certain that 

 they have seen trees and plants which never 

 produce flowers, but that conviction would only 

 prove that either they have failed to notice the 

 flowers in their proper season, or that the plant 

 has failed to flower solely from lack of proper cul- 

 tivation. 



Many of these plants whose flowers appear 

 and are almost unnoticed at the time produce 

 fruits or seeds that are familiar to most persons. 

 Now the mere fact of gathering a nut, berry, or a 

 juicy fruit from a tree is conclusive evidence that 

 it has previously flowered, for the fruit is the 

 product of the flower. We find striking examples 



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