700 



THE LIME. 



rather slight in proportion to the trunk, and spring from it at half 

 a right angle, except near the top of the tree, where the angle 

 becomes smaller. The junction between bough and stem is often 

 not clear-cut, but the angle is partially filled in, as if with a wedge. 

 Boughs and branches, except quite at the summit of the tree, are 

 bowed, and end with a curious abruptness ; one does not as it were 

 lead on into another, but the continuation of the bough is brought 

 about by a branch springing from near the extremity of its upper 

 side, and of the branch by drooping branchlets, growing in the same 

 manner, which have an upward curve. 



THE LEAF. 



The buds are set slightly to one side, and not directly above the 

 leaf-scars ; in winter they are covered with red-brown scales. When 

 growth begins towards the end of April, the bud pushes out from 

 the tip of the scales, and the green leafy stipules, which are tinted 

 with red where exposed to the light, bulge on either side of it. 

 These stipules enclose the young leaves, folded in half along the 

 mid-rib. The expanding buds turn downwards, and soon the leaves 

 begin to unfold, and to make their way out beyond the stipules, till 

 the young shoot that bears them is seen. It is coloured a pale green, 

 with sometimes a tinge of red, such as the leaf-stalks also have on 

 their upper surface. Before the leaves are fully developed the stipules 

 fall off. The leaves when young are a fresh yellow-green ; in 

 August the upper-side takes a soft rather blue-green tint, while the 

 under-side is lighter and clearly patterned by the projecting pale 

 green ribs. 



The upper surface is smooth in texture, the lower one resembles 

 it, except for a slight down at the junction of the ribs with the 



