LEAF-ARRANGEMENT. Ill 



the economy of sunshine is less important than 

 in more northern regions. 



The shoot of the Horsechestnut is even stouter 

 than that of the Sycamore, and has a diameter 

 below the sixth leaf of no less than T 3 6- of an inch. 

 With this increase of strength is, I think, con- 

 nected the greater size of the leaves, which attain 

 to as much as 18 inches in diameter; and this 

 greater size, again, has perhaps led to the dis- 

 section of the leaves into five or seven distinct 

 segments, each of which has a form somewhat 

 peculiar in itself, but which fits in admirably with 

 the other leaflets. However this may be, we have 

 in the Horsechestnut, as in the Sycamore and 

 Maples, a beautiful dome of leaves, each standing 

 free from the rest, and expanding to the fresh air 

 and sunlight a surface of foliage in proportion to 

 the stout, bold stem on which they are borne. 



Now, if we place the leaves of one tree on the 

 branches of another, we shall at once see how 

 unsuitable they would be. I do not speak of put- 

 ting a small leaf, such as that of a Beech, on a 

 large-leaved tree, such as the Horsechestnut ; but 

 if we place, for instance, Beech on Lime, or vice 

 versa, the contrast is sufficiently striking. The 

 Lime leaves would overlap one another ; while, on 



