LESSONS WITH PLANTS 313 



Note the position of the bud on the branch. Immediately 

 below it we generally find a triangular scar or mark which 

 shows where the last year's leaf has 

 fallen off. This is called a leaf scar. 



Remove the bud scales all around a 

 large bud. Note the circle or girdle of 

 scars that is produced thereby. This 

 is called a girdle scar. A similar girdle 

 forms naturally when a bud unfolds 

 in spring and the scales drop off, and 

 will be found at the very base of the 

 shoot of that season. Begin at the 

 tip of a twig and trace back till you 

 come to such a girdle scar. The in- 

 terval from the tip to the scar marks 

 a year's growth. Trace farther down 

 the twig and find perhaps other such 

 scars. In this way the age of a twig 

 or a tree may be told. The internodes 

 between such scars are often quite 

 long in young trees or shoots, but 

 sometimes half an inch or less on the 

 older parts of a tree. 



Let the pupils gather different kinds 

 of twigs and draw them. 



T FIG. 117. Cottonwood and 



leaves Butternut Twigs. 



. , , Mil f (To show buds and yearly growth.) 



Ask the pupils what leaves are for. 



Unless they have been taught they will probably answer that 

 they do not know. Some may say, "To look pretty," "To 

 give us shade." Much older people often can give no better 



