LEAVES IN WINTER QUARTERS. 1 69 



with petioles or stalks of different lengths, wide 

 and concave at the bases, which forms a kind of 

 sheath. Into this curious vegetable crib, which 

 answers the purposes of scales in tree buds, 

 nestles the infant leaf. With the magnifier one 

 can see how nicely its tender lobes are folded and 

 the care that Nature has taken in clothing it with 

 a suit of long, bristly hairs. It only waits for the 

 sun to lift it upon its foot, when another will be 

 born, and still another, to grow below it. Every 

 leaf is planned and prepared beforehand, and 

 down somewhere in the short, thick stem lie hid- 

 den the germs of other leaves, which finally will 

 see the light ; and last of all, when the king-cup 

 has reached its destined stature, June will bring 

 forth the golden crown, to adorn it with regal lus- 

 tre and glory. 



