IV 



FETJIT AND LEAi' BUDS 



When tlie leaves fall in the autumn, next 

 year's buds — the winter buds, as we term them 

 — are already in place. You may see them at 

 the base of the leafstaUc on any of the trees, 

 if you care to look. But some of them, like 

 those of the maple, are very small and hard to 

 find. If you chance to gather a handful of 

 sumach leafstalks, or those of the honey locust, 

 you will probably say, "There is nothing do- 

 ing!" But, if you pull off a sumach leaf, and 

 wipe off the drop of milky fluid which immedi- 

 ately fills the wound, you will find a tiny hump, 

 very small and pale, to be sure, but still next 

 year's leaf bud, made up of tiny clusters of 

 leaves. You can pick out each one with a mag- 

 nifying glass and a needle. And the honey lo- 

 cust? You will notice that each leafstalk has 

 a swollen base, shaped something like a horse's 

 hoof. If you break into it you will find a tiny 

 chamber, all lined with walls of white fur, and 

 cuddling there are three or four baby leaf 

 buds. 



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