THE LEAF 81 



PRACTICAL WORK 



Examine leafy shoots of, for instance, privet, lilac, 

 nasturtium, oak, ash, vetch, maple, horse chestnut, sow- 

 thistle, honeysuckle, and any grasses, paying special 

 attention to the leaves. Observe that all these leaves 

 have a thin blade t which is quite simple in shape in the 

 privet, lilac, nasturtium and grasses, lobed in the sow- 

 thistle, oak, and horse chestnut, and divided up, so 

 as to look almost like a number of separate leaves, in 

 the ash and vetch. Notice which of the leaves have leaf- 

 stalks. Make sketches of all examined. 



Examine the leaves of house-leek, and, if you live 

 near the sea, such plants as the sea-rocket, sea-kale, 

 sea-purslane, or any other thick-leaved plants, often to 

 be found growing by the seashore or in very dry places. 

 Compare their leaves with those above, noting their 

 succulent or fleshy character. 



Examine also shoots of furze, heather, broom, or 

 pine. Notice that these plants live in dry situations, 

 usually on sandy soils, where only little water is to be 

 obtained. 



Uses of Leaves. 



Examine the available plants (privet, cabbage, 

 lettuce, are very good examples to take), and observe 

 the delicate young leaves forming the leaf-bud. Notice 

 how they are protected from the sun, wind and rain, by 

 being more or less covered over by the older leaves. 

 Then observe the more elaborate methods in the 

 common docks, where the young leaves are rolled up 



F 



