354 SCOTCH FIR (PINE). 



on the inner side and convex on the outer side of each leaf, enables 

 them to tit very closely together at this point. 



The sheath or ligament shrivels away before the tour years have 

 expired, during which the leaves usually remain on the branches. The 

 lineal veins are clearly marked on the inner surtace ot the leaf from 

 tip to base. The leaves are set on the twig at about half a right 

 angle ; they curve towards it, and are twisted on their axils. Round 

 the apex ot the twig they grow so closely as to torm a sort ot cup 

 or hollow, at the bottom of which nestle the newlv-tormed buds and 

 the cones ; on the lower parts of the branches they are thinned out 

 bv wind and weather. 



The colour ot the leaves varies both in individual trees and in 

 the members ot different groups. In the new needles the green is 

 pale, glaucous, and tinged with grey ; in the older ones dark, and 

 shining. In some varieties the foliage when seen from above appears 

 almost blue in tone, and in others it is sea-green. On young trees 

 the leaves are considerably larger than on those at a more advanced 

 stage ; thev remain on the trees from three to four years, and the 

 rapid growth of the shoots which bear them (which become during 

 that period stems and stout branches) results in their being set widely 

 apart. 



PINK SEEDLING. 



The seed leaves of the Scots Pine, contrary to the general rule, 

 show a marked resemblance to the true leaves that follow. They 

 are of nearly the same shape, and arranged in a bundle. They radiate 

 from the stem after the flishion of a vase, and in tlieir arrangement 

 resemble the true leaves growing on some of the dvvarted branclilets. 



