STORKS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 325 



The characters of the bud-scales of most importance are the 

 shape, the number visible in the unmutilated bud, their arrange- 

 ment whether alternate or opposite and the number of ranks 

 they form on the bud. 



FEUIT The fruit generally forms a good means of identifi- 

 cation when it can be found. Unfortunately there are a number of 

 limitations to its use for this purpose. In the first place many 

 species of trees do not fruit every year, and it may happen that the 

 species under examination is not in its fruiting 

 period and consequently all the trees of the region 

 will fail to show fruit. Again, in some species 

 such as the Ash the sexes are separate and con- 

 sequently only female trees can ever be expected 

 to bear fruit. The fruit generally does not re- 

 main on the tree throughout the winter but if the 

 tree is sufficiently isolated from other species, a 

 careful search on the ground will often be re- 

 warded by the finding of specimens of fruit that 

 one can feel sure came from the tree in question. 

 However, some species such as the Poplars and 

 Fi berr~; Twlg ' f Mul " the Eed and Silver Maples scatter their fruit 

 BS? earl J in s P rin & and Suiting material of such 

 forms in consequence is not to be looked for in 

 ra tennmantnfd winter. The immature fruit of some species 



and tip of twig. mfty be f()und on the tree in winter ftnd be of 



value in identification. Thus the presence of young acorns on 

 an Oak in winter shows that it belongs to the Black Oak group. 

 The staminate flowering clusters are of similar diagnostic value in 

 certain groups, their presence or absence, for example, separating 

 the American Hornbeam from the Hop Hornbeam. 



COMPABISONS Under this heading are contrasted the 

 different species that are considered likely to be confused. It is 

 believed that the information in this section will prove more 

 valuable to one with some knowledge of trees than the more 

 detailed descriptions first given. 



DISTBIBUTION The habitat first discussed under this 

 heading shows in what kind of locations as to soil, moisture and 

 exposure the species normally grows. The information may be of 

 identificational value bv elimination. Thus if one finds a cedar-like 



