394 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



usual custom of cork-cells, but rounded and, as it 

 were, flung together, like stones tipped out of a 

 wheelbarrow. Between them lie many little 

 chinks and spaces, and by way of these the air 

 gets into the wood, and the moist breath exhaled 

 by the living tissue of the tree reaches the out- 

 side air. But as summer wanes, the trees fit them- 

 selves for their approaching slumber by an action 

 which might be compared to that of the Hindoo 

 fakir of Eastern wonder-lore, who, before entering 

 his death-like trance, stops his nostrils with plugs 

 of wax. 



For at the end of the growing season a close 

 layer of cork forms over the whole surface of each 

 lenticel, and seals up the tree. 



So the breathing away of the tree's moisture is 

 checked, as it has need to be, at this season, for 

 now no active little root-hairs are at work down 

 below, sucking up water from the ground. And 

 also the little seals of cork help to protect the 

 tissues of the tree against sharp and sudden frost. 



At the return of spring a number of new cork- 

 cells will be formed under the seal which Nature 

 has placed upon the lenticel. These will be a 

 light, loose mass, like that which fills the lenticels 

 in summer, and by their vigorous growth they will 



