86 
FIRST BOOK. 
rings of new wood beneath their cork-Uke bark^ 
the hardest wood is near the centre. We call it 
the heart'woodr 
LEAVES.— I, 
1. It was about a week after Mr. Grey had 
talked with Frank and Jane about stems that 
he went into a room where the children were 
waiting for him. The table was almost covered 
with leaves of many kinds, which they had been 
gathering, and Mr. Grey added some others 
which he brought in. 
2. Come on, Father/' said Frank. We are 
waiting for you to tell us about the leaves which 
you asked us to pick." 
There are ever so many shapes and sizes 
amongst them," said Jane. 
3. '^And some of the leaves have no stalks," 
added Frank. 
Then you have found out," said his father, 
that a leaf is made up of a blade only, or of a 
blade and its stalk." 
4. " Yes," said Frank, *^ this corn leaf had no 
stalk; we scarcely knew how to get it, for it was 
wrapped quite round the stem." 
Many leaves grow in that way," said his 
father. " You may see them on the ginger plant, 
