590 



THE NATURE BOOK 



4 



pointed. The lea\'es are shorter and 

 broader, and of rougher texture. The 

 flowers arc greenish \\hite. They gi'ow in 

 pairs, and appear after the leaves. The 



fruit . is oval in 

 shape, pendent on 

 longer stalk, and 

 approximates t o 

 that gi-owing in the 

 orchard. 



THE GEAX. OR COM- 

 MON CHERRY 



Whether o u r 

 thoughts r u n to 

 Chen-}' blossom, or 

 to " Cherries ripe," 

 there is no ques- 

 tion as to our in- 

 . terest in this tree. 

 Mr. Meredith, think- 

 ing of the blossom. 

 names the \\'ild 

 \ 1 I'J CheiTv. " Vestal of 



\1 I ':r the forest." 



In winter the tree 

 shows strong, as- 

 cending branches, 

 with erect twigs 

 and a considerable 

 number of dwarf 

 shoots crowded 

 with buds. 



In spring, leaves 

 and blossoms come 

 out t o g e t h e r. 

 Viewed at a dis- 

 tance, the lea^•es are quite hidden by 

 the flowers, which are of a soft pearly 

 white, and very translucent. Spenser's 

 vision of Hope might well take form 

 here : 



"In silken samite she was light arayd, 

 And her fayre lockes were woven up in gold." 



For, looked at closely, the delicate purity 

 of the blossom is sustained by the rich, 

 reddish brown colouring of the young 

 leaves. 



In summer the large pendent leaves, 

 growing often in tufts, and of a fine 

 matt green, make a strong foil for 

 the drooping clusters of red. or red- 

 black, fruit. But the fruit quickly dis- 

 appears before the eager raids of the 

 blackbirds. 



'. 



FOLIAGE AND 

 FLOWER BUD 

 OF GEAN. 



In autumn the leaf tints are striking 

 and varied, making a rich display, with 

 j-ellow and orange, pink and red, crimson 

 and brown. aU harmoniously intermixed. 



The bark is very dis- 

 tinctive, rough with 

 deeply - cut downward 

 fissures, but also show- 

 ing satiny patches scored 

 with transverse fines, 

 after the manner of 

 that of the Birch. These 

 patches of bark scale off, 

 curling up at the edges 

 and separating along the 

 trans\'erse lines. 



The .twigs are erect 

 and stout. The buds are 

 large and pointed. They 

 are brown in colour, 

 and are protected by numerous over- 

 lapping scales. They are arranged 

 spirally on the twig and stand upon 

 prominent leaf bases. The flower buds 

 are round ; the leaf-scars nearly tri- 

 angiflar. The leaves, on long stalks, hang 

 with their points down. The margins 

 are doubly toothed. At the top of the 



BUD OF GEAN 

 (ENLARGED). 



TRUNK AND BARK Ol Gl.AN. 



