Trees and How to Know Them [ 345 



Keeping a Tree Biography 



Once a child has a general understanding of tree growth, he 

 will very likely enjoy keeping a record of one particular specimen. 

 Choose a tree fairly near home so that he can observe it often: 

 about once a week in spring and fall and every two weeks in 

 summer and winter. If he looks at it closely for just a few minutes 

 at a time, he will see whatever developments there are: buds notice- 

 ably larger, buds opening, flowers blossoming, fruits forming, and 

 so on through changing leaf colors to bare branches. 



Insects found on the tree, birds nesting in it, or squirrels using 

 it for their home these are all part of the story. Such a record 

 kept in a notebook may be illustrated with a few sketches of the 

 tree's changing silhouette, its leaves, flowers, or fruit. At the end 

 of the year the youngster is quite sure to have felt something of 

 the fascination of first-hand observation, and to have an increased 

 interest in all trees. 



How to Recognize the Trees 



Certain trees have something so special about them that chil- 

 dren have no trouble remembering them. The drooping form of 

 the weeping willow, the bark of the slender white birch these are 

 quite unforgettable. However, you will find dozens of trees in 

 your own neighborhood that look more or less like many others. 

 It would be rash to conclude that it is quite impossible to recog- 

 nize them all; there are numerous ways in which each reveals its 

 name to us. 



OAKS GRANDEUR, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE 



If there are oak trees in your neighborhood, you might 

 begin with this group. So impressive are the grandeur, strength, 

 and endurance of the oak that it is frequently used as a symbol of 

 these qualities in literature and art. The oak group has many 

 different members. It is not always easy to identify each of its 

 species; there are numerous kinds that vary in size, type of leaf, 

 and other features. 



