60 THE CONIFERS OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. 



paratory for the next. Watch the unfolding of buds in the spring 

 and the appearance of the various parts. How long does it require 

 for the main growth in length to be accomplished ? 



The leaves. Observe closely a single leaf. Is it uniform in color, 

 rigid or flexible, sharp or rounded at the point? Cut across a leaf 

 and notice the outline of its section. Are the leaves borne singly 

 or in clusters? The pines have leaves in twos, threes, or fives, and 

 the larches in bunches of from 10 to 40. In the pine observe the short 

 spurs upon which the leaves are borne; these are short branches. 

 Compare with those found in the larch. Determine at what age 

 the leaves fall. To do this, count the number of years back from 

 the end of the branch to where the leaves are about all shed from the 

 branch. Try this method on other branches and compare. This mat- 

 ter stands in relation to the density of the branching, and it will be 

 found that in some trees the leaves are shed earlier than in others. 

 The leaves succumb and drop off when they are shaded. Can you by 

 examining the leaves learn something as to the needs of the tree with 

 reference to light? Another method of determining the age at which 

 leaves are shed is to cut through the branch at the place where the 

 leaves have fallen and count the rings in the wood, one for each 

 year's growth. If the branch has been of slow growth, this may re- 

 quire the aid of a lens. Observe whether the position and attitude 

 of the leaves are the same in all species. In what trees do the leaves 

 occur in alternate or spiral arrangement? Are there any in which 

 they are in circles, or opposite? 



The flowers. The flowers of the conifers appear early in the sea- 

 son, before the new leaves have fairly expanded on the same branch. 

 The flowers of these trees are always of two kinds. Look for the 

 ovulate or seed-bearing flowers on or near the ends of the branchlets. 

 These are erect and usually red and consist ordinarily of a compact 

 series of outstanding scales on a short central axis. The pollen 

 flowers, in much greater numbers, are usually a little farther back 

 from the ends of the branches and are either pendent or projecting in 

 all directions, except in the case of arbor vitae and most of the 

 junipers, in which they are terminal on short branches. What do 

 you observe as to the relative numbers of the flowers of both kinds? 

 Compare, if possible, various members of the pine family as to the 

 position of the flowers on the branch. Examine the parts of the 

 flowers. Look for the young seeds at the base of the scale on the 

 upper side. Find the source of the pollen. In many cases the flowers 

 of pines and other members of this group are on high branches and 

 out of reach from the ground, but old trees may sometimes be found 

 with spreading and low-hanging branches on which cones have been 

 produced in previous years; they will usually be found in flower at 

 the right season. 



