152 Education through Nature 



and thus made the top rounder. This is done by pruning; 

 the middle branches and superfluous outside twigs are 

 cut off and the outside branches left to take the lead. 

 There are generally five main branches coming out from 

 the trunk, and from these grow others smaller in size. 

 The branching would go on and on, becoming very com- 

 plicated and tangled if it were not for the natural selection 

 taking place all the time. The branches that get the best 

 start in the beginning take up most of the nourishment 

 stored in the stem and roots, and hence by their growth 

 are able to crowd out the less fortunate and shade them 

 from sunlight. This is the reason for the numerous little 

 branches and twigs scattered here and there throughout 

 the tree. The function of the stem and branches is three- 

 fold; first, to lift the plant above the ground so that the 

 leaves may be in the sunlight, and the flowers and fruits 

 may receive opportunity for fertilization and distribution; 

 second, to conduct the raw sap from the roots to the upper 

 extremities of the tree; third, to distribute the food ma- 

 terial wherever needed. 



The Apple Leaf. 



4. The leaves are of the alternate, two-fifths arrange- 

 ment. They are deep green in color. Their general 

 form is ovate with rounded base, acute apex, and doubly 

 serrate margin. They are pinnately veined, and have short 

 petioles and free stipules. 



"5. The flowers of the apple-tree are arranged in flat 

 compound curves. They are built on the plan of five 

 and vary from three-fourths to one and one-fourth of an 

 inch in diameter. The calyx is turbinate in form and has 



