30 THE TREE BOOK 



also occupy a shelf, and over them is "a beetling 

 hairy ridge, like a pair of eyebrows." They 

 are perhaps the oddest of all buds. Their pun- 

 gent odor and general clamminess would reveal 

 their identity in the dark. Black walnut buds 

 are clothed in rich gray velvet. Those of the 

 beech taper to delicate points, and are wrapped 

 in scales thin as tissue paper, and covered with 

 soft silken hairs. The big terminals of the 

 horse chestnut are easy to examine for "inner 

 secrets." These generally contain flowers and 

 leaves. The bud scales are in pairs, shingling 

 over each other, and coated with a gummy sub- 

 stance which makes them thoroughly weather- 

 proof. On carefully removing the scales, we 

 find the miniature leaves, folded in pairs, palms 

 together, over a spike of flowers. The winter 

 buds of the catalpa are altogether discourag- 

 ing. Indeed at first glance you may think the 

 tree dead. But examine a branch carefully. 

 The oval leaf scars stand out very plainly. 

 They are set at intervals in whorls of threes 

 or in pairs about the stem. Above each scar 

 is a tiny dot. It is a bud, and a mixed bud at 

 that! Inside are the miniature leaves and 

 flower clusters which will be a crown of glory in 

 latter June or early July. The catalpa does 

 not waken to active business until the middle of 



