WINTER BUDS 
213 
flowers will fall before the leaf buds open. On the 
Sugar Maple each terminal bud contains not only a 
bunch of flowers, but several pairs of leaves folded 
about them, the whole encased in compact scales and 
thus securely guarded against the winter's frosts. On 
the sides of the twigs the more elongated buds hold 
several pairs of leaves, and those more oval in form 
hold bunches of flowers, to droop as they develop 
and bring forth their familiar two-winged seeds. 
The Silver Birch can rank with the Beech in the 
delicate tracery of its budded sprays, and its aspiring 
trunk is conspicuous even against a background of 
snow. Some of last year's empty seed cones are 
always retained, and the male catkins for the coming 
year, almost an inch in length, appear in conspicuous 
bunches at the ends of the higher twigs. These 
developed during the summer, but will remain 
quiescent till next spring, when they will droop and 
elongate, shedding their yellow pollen to the passing 
wind. The fertile catkins are still snugly folded in the 
rounded buds, ready to come forth with the leaves in 
spring. The leaf buds are abundant and conspicuous 
along the finer twigs. Each holds a pair of enfolded 
leaves safely guarded from the winter and awaiting 
the life-giving touch of spring. It is easily natural to 
forget the passing of last year's life and vigour in 
contemplating the new growth that fulfills the per- 
petual law of succession. The death of the past is 
essential to the life of the present. 
