Shoots 



tiles of a roof, and closely encircling it. More- 

 over, to prevent the damp from penetrating 

 each scale is tarred with a resinous gum, which 

 is now like dried varnish, but which will turn 

 soft in the spring so as to allow the shoot to 

 expand. Then the scales, no longer glued 

 together but quite sticky, separate and the 

 first leaves unfold lined with a russet down. 

 Almost all shoots at the time of their effort 

 in spring show in different degrees this sticki- 

 ness, which results from the melting of their 

 resinous coat. We may notice particularly 

 those of the ash, the alder and especially the 

 poplar, which allow an abundant yellow, 

 bitter gum to ooze out when pressed by the 

 fingers. This gum is diligently collected by 

 bees who use it to make their propolis, the 

 cement with which they plaster the fissures 

 and walls of the hive before constructing the 

 combs. Despite its modest appearance the 

 shoot is a masterpiece ; its polish repels the 

 damp, its scales protect it from the air ; while 

 its lining of down prevents any access of cold. 

 The scales are the essential portions of the 

 shoot's winter coat. These are only small 

 leaves hardened and tough and modified to 

 form a means of defence. The subsequent 

 leaves which form the heart of the shoot are 



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