NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 73 



We eat the juicy covering and throw away the seed. If it falls 

 in the right place, it will sink into the earth. There it will rest all 

 winter. The seed ripens, and, by the time spring comes, the hard, 

 stony case is ready to split. The seed swells and bursts, and then 

 the baby plant begins to grow, just like the apple seedling. 



First, a tiny pair of green leaves appears above ground. Then 

 a tiny root shoots down. Soon this grows into a seedling. This 

 is the beginning of a plum tree. 



Our best plums are obtained by grafting a young bud on a good 

 strong tree, just as we graft a peach bud. 



The Tree 



The Tree's early leaf buds were bursting their brown; 

 "Shall I take them away?" said the Frost, sweeping down. 



"No, let them alone 



" Till the blossoms have grown," 

 Prayed the Tree, while it trembled from rootlet to crown. 



The Tree bore its blossoms and all the birds sung; 

 "Shall I take them away?" said the Wind, as it swung. 



"No, let them alone 



" Till the berries have grown," 

 Said the Tree, while its leaflets, quivering, hung. 



The Tree bore its fruit in the midsummer glow; 



Said the Girl, "May I gather thy sweet berries now?" 



"Yes, all thou canst see; 



"Take them; all are for thee," 

 Said the Tree, while it bent down its laden boughs low. 



BJORNSTJERNE BJORNS 



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