I062 



THE NATURE BOOK 



From this the shrub deri\'es its by-name 

 of Bay-sweet. Pollen-bearing iiowers are 

 distinct from fruit -producing flowers, and 

 they grow on different shrubs. They are 

 to be found in small clusters at the junction 

 of stem and leaf-stalk. Each has four 

 small jx'tals, wliich are creamy white. 

 The small oval berries ripen to a dark 

 ]mr}ile. They will, of course, only be 

 fiiund upon those i)lants that have borne 

 fruit-producing flowers. 



THE CHERRY LAUREL 



This has come to be with most people 

 the Laiu'el, though, as before stated, it is 

 not a Laurel at all, but an evergreen 



LA UK EL. 



member of the Cherry and Plum group. 

 It is culti\'ated everywhere either as bush 

 or hedge. Hardier than the Bay, it is not 

 so hardy as its Portugal cousin. It seems 

 to be peculiarly sensitive to impurity in 

 the atmosphere, and becomes the for- 

 lornest of shrubs under the influence of 

 the smoke oi the town. 



The twigs and buds are green. The 



leaves, which are arranged alternately, are 



of a bright yellowish green, polished and 



shining above, paler and matt beneath. 



The margins show small, irregular teeth. 



The leaf-stalks are short and stout. As 



with the Cherr}', its near of kin, there are 



honey glands, but these are on the 



under side of the leaf-blade on 



either side of the base of the 



midrib, not on the leaf-stalks. 



They take the form of slight 



depressions, minute, green at 



first, changing to purple as the 



leaf matures, scarcely dis- 



cernil>le in winter. The leaves, 



when bruised, emit a distinctive 



scent, as of bitter ahnonds, 



fatal to insect life in any 



enclosed space. 



The flowers are grouped in 

 erect, rather slender spikes, 

 rising from the stem at the 

 points of junction with the 

 stalks of the preceding year's 

 leaves. These spikes, like 

 those of the Bird Cherry, 

 com])rise a central stem with 

 radiating short branches, to 

 each of which a single flower 

 is attached. Each flower is 

 complete with stamens and 

 ])istil, has small white petals, 

 and is freely visited by insects 

 lor pollen and honey. The 

 fruits, in branched clusters, are 

 nearly as large as cherries, 

 but less rounded, are black 

 when ripe, and, like the cherries, 

 have no waxy l)loom. 



THE PORTl'C.AL LAUREL 



This rounded shrub, or small 

 tree, is so closely allied to 

 the last that it may be 

 icgarded almost as a variety. 

 It may be distinguished 

 readily. 



