Bpril 79 



trees will show two leaves of the mature form, which 

 is quite different from the strap-shaped cotyledon. 



It may interest my readers to be reminded that 

 the sycamore of which I have been speaking is not 

 the sycamore of Scripture, which is a species of fig, 

 and an entirely different tree in every respect. It 

 has an oval undivided leaf like the bay tree and 

 having wide-spreading branches affording abundant 

 shade ; it is often to be met with by the roadside 

 in Palestine, where it is planted for the benefit of 

 wayfarers, who welcome the cool shelter it affords 

 from the hot sun, and also the sustaining fruit it bears. 



Beech seed-leaves consist of two broad, deep 

 green cotyledons of palest green beneath ; they are 

 very distinctive, and once identified we can never 

 mistake them. 



The lime tree has seedlings with deeply incised 

 leaves, very unlike the perfect form. 



If we have no companion who can name these 

 baby-trees for us, the only way to learn about 

 them is to look under the various trees in April 

 and May, when we shall probably light upon the 

 growing seeds of each kind. When pressed and 

 dried, they form an interesting collection either by 

 themselves, or to add to any dried specimens of the 

 English forest trees we may happen to be forming. 



SHEPHERD'S PURSE 



One of the commonest weeds to be found 

 throughout spring and winter is the shepherd's 

 purse (Capsella-bursa pastoris). It often bears as 

 many as fifty pods on its stem, and by counting 

 the number of seeds in each pod and adding the 

 whole number together, we shall find the total to 



