208 
them look like the glass ornaments on a Christmas 
tree. ; 
When the warm weather came, they put off their ice 
coats, and grew larger and longer, 
and at last let out a quantity of 
stamens. 
But on the same alder tree that 
bears these tassels with flowers 
made up of stamens or dust boxes 
ug (Fig. 199, 2), you find also the tassels 
ee with flowers made up of pistils (Fig. 199, 4). 
If you make a search, you will 
find the little upright clusters 
composed of these flowers with pistils. 
Late in the year, when these 
clusters have turned into fruit, they 
look like this picture (Fig. 200). 
The pretty birches are cousins 
FIG. 200 
to the alders, and keep house in 
much the same way, bearing the 
tassels with stamens (Fig. 201, a) 
and the little clusters made up of 
flowers with pistils (Fig. 201, 4) on the 
Same tree. 
The tassels on some of the birches are 
very beautiful. When full grown, they are 
golden yellow, and so long and soft and 
graceful that one feels like stroking them 
and playing with them as he would with a 
kitten. 
Fic. 201 I hope every country child who reads 
