82 DA VET'S PRIMER 



"That's a beauty! " 



We will not disagree with you, Elizabeth. This 

 tree, like the oak and the chestnut on the preceding 

 pages, is standing out in the open cultivated field, and 

 has had the full nourishment that comes from plowing 

 and cultivating, which keeps the roots in a healthy, 

 active condition. 



The winter season is the time to see the outlines of 

 the form of the tree. Glancing at this tree you will 

 observe it is not " crotched," but has large and powerful 

 "lateral" arms. We want you to form the habit 

 of looking at trees in the winter season, and talk 

 about them among yourselves, and don't forget to tell 

 your father and mother what you learn concerning 

 them, for they had no books to guide them when they 

 were young. 



After you have decided what is the best type of 

 tree to breed from, then be on the lookout for the seed. 

 You will become wonderfully interested to see the elms, 

 oaks, maples, indeed, all trees forming their modest but 

 beautiful flowers in the spring or early summer, and 

 ripening their fruit in due season. (Elms and soft 

 maples drop their seed just after the leaves expand, the 

 hard maples in fall.) 



Perhaps there is nothing more pleasing than the 

 seed of the maple. This seed is called "samara." It 

 has a wing. It seems that the Creator considered the 

 maple one of his -most beautiful trees, and gave it the 

 " wing " so that it could be carried by the wind and, in 

 this way, be spread around to give us more maple sugar 



