1892]. The Identification of Trees in Winter. 187 
is evidently often possible to dissect the buds and to make a 
blossom next year. In other words the ordinary means of 
botanical determination can to a certain extent be employed. 
S a matter of practice, however, this was rarely found 
hecessary since the external features were found sufficient for 
purposes of identification. 
The remains of the inflorescence of the last season is another 
good means of recognizing ligneous plants when this is present, 
as in the case of the fruited pedicels of Diospyros Virginiana 
Linn., the inflorescence of Prelea trifoliata Linn., Rhus glabra 
sround. The pods of Hamamelis Virginica Linn., naturally 
main on the tree all winter since they do not ripen until 
next year. 
_ The bark of the trees usually finds difficulty in accommodat- 
uig Itself to the increased circumference of the tree in its old 
Ene for distinguishing species. Thus in the beech the bark 
oe comparatively smooth; in the sycamore it splits off in 
stri pleces; in species of hickory it separates in long shaggy 
Ps which remain more or less attached to the tree; in species 
wrap hori bark separates into more or less thin sheets which 
times zontally around the trunk of the tree and fall off at 
s- In the great Majority of trees the bark cracks more or 
w he genera and at times even the species of trees. Old 
use this means of identifying the older trees often 
table success, although often mistaken in deter- 
P€cies in ae the younger intermediate trees of the same 
And | ich the cracks are less developed. 
it be a tlY the general habits of a ligneous plant, whether 
© Or not, the curvature of its branches, and the 
