110 



NATURE STUDY 



second years, the Holly by the third, year, and the Mis- 

 tletoe by the fourth year. 



The other common evergreens — Hemlock, Pine, Arbor 

 Vitse — may be studied earlier in the month. 



PixES : 



The pines most likely to be found in this vicinity *are 

 the White, Red, and Pitch Pine. 



The White Pixe grows to be the tallest and most 

 stately of all our American trees. Its bark is rather 

 smooth and reddish green. Its branches are in whorls 

 of five, and although all but the upper branches decay 

 and disappear, yet traces remain of the older branches, 



and the age of the tree may 

 be determined with their 

 aid, since a new whorl is 

 formed each year. 



The long green leaves 

 are five in number, and 

 arranged in tufts at the 

 ends of branches. 



The year-old cones, two 

 or three inches in length, 

 are green. They are ma- 

 ture at the end of the next 

 season, brown in color, and 

 from four to six inches 

 long. Before fertilization, 

 the scales are open, so that 

 the pollen may reach the 

 ovules. Afterwards, they become tightly closed and open 

 only to distribute the winged seeds, Avhich, like nearly all 

 the seeds of this family, are very excellent eating. 



White Pine, branch and cone. 



