24 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



their tissues, flutter to the ground there to lie 

 until decomposition gradually changes them into 

 soft mould. In this way a bed of fine rooting 

 material is formed for future generations of 

 seedlings. 



It is, indeed, a wrong impression to consider 

 the autumn as simply a time of decay, for much 

 is accomplished at that period by way of pre- 

 paration for the following spring. Pull a Chestnut 

 bud to pieces just before the tree loses its foliage, 

 and it is possible to distinguish the leaves on a 

 small scale, certainly, but in a wonderfully per- 

 fect condition. Several pairs of leaves may be 

 readily distinguished all packed away in downy 

 material, quite ready for the development which 

 will come with the spring. This being so, the pro- 

 tection of the buds against the rigours of winter 

 is a matter of first importance in the life of the 

 plant. Perhaps one of the most obvious features 

 in our Chestnut bud is the gummy substance 

 coating the exterior, which under the influence of 

 warm sunshine becomes very sticky indeed. This 

 material is most valuable on account of its non- 

 conductive properties, and doubtless plays a large 

 part in shielding the contents of the bud from 

 cold. Apart from this, however, there are several 

 layers of scales which play the chief part in check- 



