MARCH 171 



is typically seven, but owing to hybridization with the 

 buckeyes, five, six, seven, and even eight or nine are 

 occasionally found. 



Usually between every two pairs of leaf scars will be 

 found rings. These mark the place where the bud scales 

 dropped off, and therefore between them is a year's 

 growth. Observe that some years the branch grew 

 much more rapidly than others. Why ? 



Ifethod : 



Nothing could be better for the children than for each 

 to have his own branch, with his name cut on it, to watch 

 it from day to day and to draw it. But this is not often 

 practicable. Moreover, it would be bad for the trees. 



Much can be accomplished, even in a large school, with 

 a single branch, if only the teacher knows, if only she is 

 in earnest. 



Review what the children learned of the buds in early 

 fall. Why do we cut off their ends ? Vfhj do we place 

 them in warm water ? Why are the buds sticky ? 



As they develop, give the children a hektograph draw- 

 ing of each stage. 



How do the inner scales differ from the outer ones? 

 Why are the latter brown ? Why leathery ? Why are 

 the inner ones brown and leathery at the outside tip ? 

 Why green elsewhere ? Why slightlv woolly ? 



What is inside the scales ? Why do you think that 

 these are leaves ? Why are they woolly ? Why so folded 

 together ? \\Tiat kind of leaves ? Hoav many leaflets ? 



Look at the stem. Do you see any signs of last year's 

 leaves ? AVhat are the dots ? Do you find any signs of 



