Trees of New York State 45 



tinned, without interruption, entirely throiif^h the crown, and is 

 prolonged annually by a terminal leader which produces laterals 

 at intervals, usually in whorls or false whorls which give a more 

 or less storied appearance to the crown. This type of branching 

 is characteristic of the coniferous trees and a few broad-leaf trees 

 and is an important feature because long, straight, tapering 

 trunks are produced which yield the maximum amount of lum- 

 ber. The second type is characterized by a trunk which, sooner 

 or later, divides to form several large limbs which give rise to a 

 broad, spreading crown, as in most of the broad-leaved trees. 

 While many valuable timber trees are included in this class, they 

 produce less merchantable lumber in proportion on conversion 

 because there is a greater wastage in the crown. Both types 

 exhibit many variations which are in part specific and in part 

 the result of environment. Certain species in age develop a high, 

 flat-topped, spreading crown,; in others the crown is oblong or 

 ovate and extends to within a few feet of the ground. The crown 

 may be dense or open, consist of upright, horizontal or pendant 

 branches which are either straight and rigid in habit or lax or 

 zigzag and variously contorted. Moreover, the crown shape varies 

 with age and the density of the stand. Many trees in youth pos- 

 sess a narrow, conical crown which becomes oblong, ovate or 

 ovoid as they attain maturity. Trees growing in the open usually 

 have a larger crown development than those in dense stands and 

 often develop into the so-called "wolf" trees. The best timber 

 is generally produced in dense stands. In conclusion we may 

 say that every tree in the winter condition has certain eccentricities 

 which betray its identity to the trained observer who is familiar 

 with them. 



Wiiifcr Twigs 



The study of twigs in winter conditions offers an entrancing 

 subject to the student of trees and is an excellent training in the 

 observation of details. The more important diagnostic features 

 of winter twigs are buds, leaf-scars, bundle-scars, and color and 

 character of the pith. (See Figs. 67-74.) 



A. Winter Buds 



A bud may be defined as an embryonic axis with its appendages. 

 Many woody plants from the tropical rain forests where growth 

 is practically continuous throughout the year, have buds which, 

 as they are never truly dormant, are unprotected by typical 



