SPRING NATURE STUDY. 



543 



Horse-Chestnut. Form usually ovoid, not as regular as 

 maple, and usually more pointed at top. Trunk some- 

 times extends almost to top, often short, and divided into 

 three main branches. Branches without plan, very thick, 

 and irregular in growth. Twigs with many large, oppo- 

 site, crescent-shaped scars. Very large, brown, sticky 

 buds, the large buds always on the ends of branches, the 

 buds on sides of branches, smaller and in pairs. 



Poplar. Lombardy poplar, distinguished by its slender 

 spire shape, with trunk extending to top, and branches 

 almost vertical, and nu- 

 merous and short. Com- 

 mon poplar (cottonwood) 



as in Fig. 63. Trunk ^T^BSW^^i 



rather rough, light-col- 

 ored. Branches, except 

 largest ones, smooth, yel- 

 lowish. Buds quite large, 

 at ends of twigs gummy. 

 Leaf as in Fig. 64. 



Birch. The silver or 

 white birch (see Fig. 65) 

 is readily distinguished 

 by the many fine drooping 

 branches. The outline 

 is usually cylindrical or 

 slightly conical, with a dis- F tinct trunk, often extend- 

 ing almost to the top. Bark smooth, white, peeling off 

 around the trunk. Branches nearly horizontal, flexible. 

 Leaves as in Fig. 66. Short green catkins show early. 



Evergreens. The pine and spruce and hemlock are de- 

 scribed and figured in the study of evergreens in December. 

 (See page 410 and Figs. 36, 37, and 38.) 



From Mathews's 



" Familiar Trees and their Leaves." 

 Copyright, 1896, by D. Appleton & Co. 



Fig. 64. Cottonwood Leaf. 



