FAMILIAR 

 TREES AND THEIR LEAVES. 



CHAPTEE I. 



THE LEAF AS A BUILDER. 



The trees may be justly numbered among our 

 best friends, for the simple reason tbat our lives are 

 inseparably connected with and greatly benefited by 

 them. But we need to know our leafy friends 

 better. It is not enough to be able to distinguish 

 an ash from a hickory, or a fir from a spruce ; it is 

 more important by far that we should become ac- 

 quainted with the form and character of the leaves, 

 the fruit, and the bark and thus acquire a fuller 

 knowledge of the way the tree lives. 



To hnow a tree is to become familiar with the 

 purpose and condition of its life. This is revealed in 

 no small measure by the leaves. The needle of the 

 pine enables the tree to withstand a hurricane on a 

 mountain top, yet its slender figure is perfectly 

 adapted to the task of gathering light and air for the 



