156 Our Field and Forest Trees 



another. For every leaf bud there is a little 

 branch — a branch wonderfully tiny, tightly 

 folded, and fast asleep, and, in many cases, very 

 snugly wrapped up. 



On the orchard trees there are what gardeners 

 call fruit buds; each of them cradles a little cluster 

 of sleeping flowers, besides perhaps a few leaves. 

 All the white and pink sweetness of a bunch of 

 apple blossoms is 

 folded away now 

 inside a bud no 

 larger than a grain 

 of uncooked rice. 



We need not be 

 wizards to see the 

 leaves and flowers 

 of the coming spring while the fields are white 

 with snow. We require only a needle, a little 

 patience, and a pocket lens. 



In December, or even October, we can look for 

 next April's willow pussies — and find them, too ! 



Beside roadside rivulets we may see the 

 " laurel," or " shining " willow, easily known, 

 even in winter, by its smooth dark-brown bark 

 and glossy orange-colored twigs. At even dis- 

 tances apart are next spring's buds, each enclosed, 

 like all the winter buds borne by the willow family, 

 in a single wrapping. This wrapping is made by 

 two leaves joined together by their edges and 

 grown thick and horny to suit their present busi- 



Fig- 39- 



Extending buds of the tulip tree, 

 birch, and almond. 



