12 77/6' Horse-Chestnut Twig. 



" If you look at me," said the twig, " you will find 

 the leaf scars. These mark the places where the 

 leaves were last year, and on these little scars you 

 will find tiny dots. These will tell you the number 

 of leaflets which made up the large leaf. Some 

 have five, and some seven." 



" What are those little rings around you ? " asked 

 George. 



" They show how much I have grown each year," 

 answered the twig. 



" I hope I am not tiring you, little twig, but I 

 have one more question that I should like to ask." 



" If I can, I shall be glad to answer it," said the 

 twig. 



" Where are your leaf and flower buds ? " 

 " Under my brown coat are my tiny little leaflets, 

 all wrapped in warm cotton, waiting for spring. 

 In between the leaflets, my flower bud is hidden. 

 When the sun has helped to open my big leaf 

 bud, the flower will come out in beau- 

 tiful pink and white blossoms." 



" Thank you," said George, 

 " I am so glad I had this 

 talk with you." 



