360 



NATURE-STUDY 



thick. It is also smoother. When the trees feel the touch 

 of spring, these thin-barked branches show a Hush of color, 

 red, brown, \-ellow, etc., that produces a pleasing effect in 

 the yet leafless forests. 



The branching of trees also is characteristic, nearly every 



species possessing its pe- 

 culiar type or mode of 

 branching. The spruces 

 hold their branches hori- 

 zontally and, the upper 

 branches being younger 

 and shorter, the whole 

 tree has a tapering, coni- 

 cal appearance. The soft 

 maple has a short stem 

 which soon di\'ides into 

 several long main 

 branches that make a 

 rather small angle with 

 each other, giving the 

 whole tree a fan-like ef- 

 fect. The hard maple 

 with its numerous 

 branches has a very different aspect. The elms have 

 a very characteristic form due to the way in which the 

 branches grow. The typical form is with several main 

 spreading branches which droop somewhat at the ends, 

 although there is another common form with more rounded 

 crown and irregular branching. 



One ought to be able to distinguish the trees by the bark 

 and mode of branching alone. 



Fig. 154. Red Oak. 



