THE BEECH AND THE OAK 



is full of warm light even m winter 

 days. 



As spri)ig draws on, the tree, by reason 

 of its changing buds, assumes almost a 

 rudd\- hue, to be followed by the pure 

 emerald of the first unfolding leaves, till 

 these attain full growth with deeper but 

 \et translucent shadow. 



\Vith the full summer the closely-fitted 

 mosaics of leaves, in ascending tiers, 

 thickened and opaque, yield to the way- 

 farer most gi-ateful shade as of twilight 

 at high noon, forming under widespread 

 expanse an oasis of coolness also amid 

 the surrounding midday swelter. For 

 every leaf with its shining surface throws 

 back excess of light and heat. 



In autumn the peculiar glory of this 

 tree appears when, robed about with 

 leaves whose green is changed to ruddy 

 gold, it lightens the landscape as with a 

 flame ; on dull days fairly simulating 

 sunshine, on bright days gathering in 

 and intensifying the day's brightness. 



It will be useful now to give some de- 

 tails as aids to identification. These, 

 taken more or less together, according as 

 thev are available, will serve to distin- 



TKUNK 



BEECH LEAVES. 



guish the Beech from other trees in any 

 season of the year. 



The trunk is cylindrical but broadening 

 at the base, as with prehensile claws that 

 grip the ground, assuring firm foothold. 

 The bark is thin and smooth, and fits like 

 a skin over moulded trunk and limb. 

 It is olive grey in colour, almost lus- 

 trous, with exquisite gradations of tone. 

 The winter twigs are smooth, of varying 

 shades of brown, distinctly zigzag, long, 

 and slender. The resting buds, placed 

 alternately on either side of the twig, 

 are spindle-shaped. They stand out 

 boldly from the twig at each angle 

 of its zigzag. They are protected 

 with numerous firm scales of a pale 

 brown colour. As the bud expands, 

 putting forth its young leaves, these 

 scales separate and fall off, as small 

 brown caps. Beneath each bud on the 

 twig is the small healed wound, the 

 " scar." where the leaf of the previous 

 year was attached. This in the Beech 

 is elliptical in shape, and shows three 

 small " traces " where the severed tubes 

 that passed from twig to leaf have been 

 closed. 



The leaves, when first emerging, are 

 delicately fringed with silky hairs. I^ter 

 these fringes disappear. The full-grown 

 Naf is oval in shape, and pointed some- 

 • hat, clear dark green, and glossy. It 

 iias a slightly wavy outline. The midrib 



