2OO 



HOUSE, GARDEN, AND FIELD 



down-pointing cover-scales externally ; the scales are not 

 thickened. The cone ripens in one year. Silver Fir cones 

 (unlike those of Scotch Fir and Spruce) break up when ripe. 



The Norway Spruce or Spruce Fir is somewhat like 

 the Silver Fir in general appearance. There are no leaf- 

 spurs, and the leaves form a double comb. The cones 

 hang downwards, and do not show the cover-scales ex- 

 ternally. The fertile scales are not thickened at their 

 free ends. The cone ripens in one year. 



The Larch is most easily distinguished by its deciduous 

 leaves. Leaf -spurs are present ; the leaves are scattered 

 on the young branches, and clustered on the spurs. The 

 scales of the cone are not thickened. The cone ripens 

 in one year. 



The Yew has no leaf-spurs, and the leaves form a double 

 comb. The flowers are completely separated, so that a 

 tree bears only pollen, or only seeds. The cone contains 

 a single seed, which is sunk in a fleshy red cup. 



APPLE AND PEAR TREES (Rose family). 



Most people, even if town-bred, can pick out certain 

 trees as either apple or pear, but some fail to distinguish 

 the two. The following marks will be of use, but do not 

 hold good in every case. 



Apple. 



A low, spreading tree. 

 Leaves woolly beneath. 

 Young twigs hairy. 

 Flower-bunch spreads from a 



point (umbel). 

 Petals rosy outside. 

 Anthers yellow. 



Pear. 



A taller, more pyramidal tree. 

 Leaves not woolly. 

 Young twigs bare. 

 Flower-bunch spreads from an 



axis (corymb). 

 Petals white on both sides. 

 Anthers red or purple. 



PLUM AND CHERRY TREES (Rose family). 



Through these trees often look very different from one 

 another, it is not easy to find a certain means of distin- 



