NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



75 



by looking at the circular scars left by last year's buds. Each 

 bud is covered during the winter with short, glossy scales, with 

 fine, soft wool around the edge 

 to protect the little leaves in- 

 side. When the warm spring air 

 touches them, they throw off 

 the woolly, downy covering, and 

 the tiny leaf buds come forth. 

 Then the flower buds burst 

 out, and we see the tree cov- 

 ered with clusters of beautiful 

 white and pink flowers, which 

 make lovely bouquets all over 

 the green tree. Here is a bunch of apple blossoms just come out. 

 The apple blossoms bloom in the month of May. Then they 

 drop, and the pretty white leaves look like a shower of snowflakes 

 falling in the wind, but they have left behind the most important 



part of the flower, 

 of green leaves 

 stamens standing 

 remains of the 

 the apple fruit is 



That is a knob with a number 

 around it, and some little spiked 

 up in a circle. This gsjbjL is the 

 calyx, or cup, below {*m which 

 beginning to grow. It IT grows 

 and grows, getting rosy and fleshy and juicy, and one ^ day in 

 the fall it has grown into a beautiful round apple. At the top 

 you can still see the dried leaves of the old calyx, which do not 

 fall off. 



