urns 137 



after another the stick}' scales fall off, showing the 

 )'()iini( leaves with their s(jft wooll)- surfaces ; 

 these lea\es rapidl)' unfold and han<4" drof)|)in_L;ly 

 until the midribs i;ain stren_L;th enou;_;h to hold 

 them U|)rii;hl. 



]C\elyn remarked that, " As soon as the leadinL,^ 

 shoot of the horse-chestnut has come out of the 

 bud, it continues to i;ro\v so fast as to be able to 

 form its whole summer's shoot, sometimes eighteen 

 inches long, in about three weeks. After this it 

 grows but little more in length, onl\- thickens, 

 becomes strong and wood)-, and forms the buds 

 for ntwt N'ear's shoot." 



lUids ha\e alwa}'s been to me a most interest- 

 ing subject of stud}' ; there is much variet}' of 

 character in them, and to those wlio obser\e them 

 closely the}' re\eal in the autumn and winter 

 what the tree is purposing to do in the following 

 season. 



A beech-tree on m\- lawn bears its nuts onl}' 

 ever}' second or third summer, and in the ])re\ious 

 autunni 1 can alwa}'s tell whether the scjuirrels are 

 likel}' to l)c well off for food in the conn'ng }'ear. 

 b}' obser\ing tlvj size and shape of the buds. 



