316 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



leaf, or the angle made by the foot of its stalk and the 

 branch : all the summer this bud continues very small and 

 inconspicuous, but by the autumn it has increased so much 

 as to force apart the junction of the old leaf with the stem, 

 and separate it by an articulation which did not originally 

 exist there, but which has been gradually formed since the 

 developement of the leaf. Its footing being destroyed, it 

 either falls in obedience to the laws of gravity, or but 

 waits the passing breeze to convey it to its grave. 



C. Would not forest leaves make a good manure ? 



-F. In favourable situations, such as where they have 

 accumulated in great numbers, and where the ground is 

 sufficiently open to allow of the passing of carts, &c. I 

 have no doubt they might often be applied with profit. I 

 have myself collected some quantities, and applied them 

 in the proportion of about sixteen loads to the acre, with 

 good effect ; they readily decay, and contain much fertilising 

 matter. 



C The beautiful coloured foliage, I perceive, does not 



look so perfect when you examine it leaf by leaf, as it does 

 viewed from a little distance as a whole : numberless 

 scratches, spots, and discolorations deface the surface, which 

 were altogether invisible before. I have often observed 

 round black spots on the surface of leaves beginning to 

 decay ; maple leaves, I see, have them plentifully. 



F. It is a species of fungus which parasitically fixes 

 itself there, and draws its support from the substance of the 

 leaf, thus forming a rapid agent in its decomposition. 



C. The fruit of the butternut is now ripe, and falls 

 from the tree. It resembles the walnut of Europe, but is 

 much inferior. 



F. The nut is not in its best condition until it has lain 

 some time to dry, and the frosts of winter have matured it. 

 Then its taste is agreeable ; but its shell is hard to break, 



