Lessons in the School-yard. 



141 



Carefully remove the scales, one scale at a time ; have the 

 children notice the beautiful lustrous down covering the 

 scales until the little tuft of leaves is reached. What do 

 you find in the centre of this bud ? Leaves. How are these 

 leaves folded in the bud ? How many leaves do you find 

 in your bud, Harry ? Pick these off and tell me what you 



FIG. 35. BUDS. 

 a, Ailanthus ; , beech ; c, sycamore ; </, sumach. 



find now, Lucy. Yes, there is a smaller bunch of leaves in- 

 side this larger one. Are these leaves all in one cluster, or 

 are there several clusters ? Are the outer ones tough or 

 tender, Jennie ? Why are these bud-scales put so thickly 

 around this little branch of tender leaves ? To protect them. 

 From what do the scales protect the tender young branches ? 



