1SG7.J 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
225 
TOYS <k §IIIE3W (BQ&raiHSo 
Tlie Doctor's Tallts. 
Perhaps you think I am to talk again about pollywogs. 
That is quite a mistake ; I don't intend to confine myself 
to any particular subject, but say, now and then, a word 
Fig. 1. 
Fig. 2. 
about animals, plants, stones, or any common thing that 
will teach you to use your eyes, and see that there are 
plenty of things worth the trouble of looking at closely. 
Have you watched the trees this spring, and seen how 
the naked branches soon became clothed with leaves that 
now, in this warm June, cast a pleasant shade ? You 
hardly noticed the trees when they were bare, but you 
admire them now that they are in full leaf. Did you ever 
think how all this came about, and how much work the 
trees did, beforehand, to prepare for this spread of foliage 
you now enjoy so much ? Next winter, if you look at 
the trees, you will think of this, and notice the plump 
buds on the ends of the stems, and the smaller ones along 
their sides. Buds do not look very interesting, but those 
of most of our forest trees in winter already have, withiu 
them, the leaves that will so delight you in summer. I 
have had drawn, figure 2, a bud of a Horsechestnut tree, 
or Buckeye, because that is a large bud, and was handy. 
In winter, it looks as in the engraving, a scaly knob, all 
covered with a water- 
proof varnish. If you 
pick it open, you will 
find withiu it the very 
delicate young leaves, 
and these are very curi- 
ously packed away in a 
mass of cotton-like hairs, 
bo as to perfectly protect 
them from the cold. As, 
soon as the weather is 
warm enough, the scales 
fall open and the stem 
upon which the littlo 
leaves arc placed pushes 
out ; the leaves them- 
selves rapidly enlarge, 
and soon the tree has Its 
naked limbs hidden by 
the green covering. Fig- 
ure 1 shows the shoot 
just pushing. Most of 
our forest trees make 
their growth in ft very 
short time ; the new 
shoots push rnpidly in 
spring and unfold their 
leaves, and then remain 
quiet. But what is the 
tree doing all the sum- 
mer? It is doing sev- 
eral things, and among 
the most important of 
these, it is preparing n very great number of buds for 
tho growth of another year. At the ends of the branches 
and at the points where the leaves join the stem, there are 
quietly and slowly forming these curious buds. The buds 
are withiu and without composed of leaves, and the 
scales which look so dark and unlike leaves, are only 
leaves formed in a particular way to serve a particular 
purpose. In the Bnckeye, in figure 1, we can see, in early 
spring, that, while the outer scales are very unlike leaves, 
the inner ones have a slight leaf-like look, and so along 
up to perfect leaves. Is not it strange that the tree 
should seem to know that something would be needed of 
it nest spring and work away during summer to pack up 
carefully the young leaves, so that they will be protected 
from the rains and frosts of winter? 
E>o Cats Love jU.usic« 
Several incidents which have been communicated to 
the Agriculturist, seem to prove that cats enjoy sweet 
sounds, although they make horrid work when they try 
their own voices. One writes, that when the ladies of the 
family sing, the household cat will at once jump into the 
lap of one of the party and remain there until the music 
ceases. Three persons in different parts of the country 
have written that their cats have been detected running 
over the keys of the piano, apparently enjoying the sound. 
It would be a rare performance for one to be taught to 
play a time, but we think that can hardly be expected. 
BSespect tlac Aged. 
11 Take my place, sir, if you please," said a boy, rising 
from the seat he had occupied in a crowded street car, 
and addressing an old gentleman who had just entered. — 
"Thank you, my boy, but I'm sorry you should have to 
stand," was the reply. — "I shall not mind it, sir ; aud fm 
sure you need the seat more than I," returned the youth ; 
and the old man took his place, a look of weariness, that 
had been noticed in his face when he came in, leaving it 
as he did so. It was a little thing for the boy to do, but 
it was a kind, respectful act, and some of those who saw 
it felt that it promised well for the boy's future. 
Another old man was walking down the street some 
days later, when another boy came by, apparently in great 
haste. "Come, hurry up, old '76, or you'll never get 
where you're going;" were the rude words he spoke, as 
he rushed by. The old man made no reply, but looked 
sadly after the boy, and moved slowly on. " I should 
never speak like that," my young reader will say, and 
perhaps with a feeling of indignation against this boy. 
"Well, I trust you would not. There are very many ways 
in which the young may show respect for the old, or 
rudeness to them. When you see an aged man or woman, 
never forget what kind of treatment they may rightly ex- 
pect from you. Remember that they were young and 
strong and merry once like you. But that was long ago. 
For them the busy day of life is nearly past, and night is 
near. Tiy to make them happier. Ton will be glad 
some day to remember that you did so. Uncle Paul. 
" B£aH>y ^Te«l, M though not two years old, 
eats his dinner at the table with the family; and his 
mother finds it very difficult to keep him still long enough 
for "the blessing." One day, after much training, he 
folded his little hands and sat very quietly until just at 
still, he suddenly called ont "'at 'ill do (that will do) 
papa, pass plates now." Of course there was a smile. — H. 
A Pattern Building-. 
The accompanying figure shows one of the hundreds of 
buildings, which may be made with Crandall's improved 
building blocks, noticed in a, previous number of the 
No. 2GG. Illustrated Sebus.—ThXs is ingeniously made so as to read in three ways. 
the close of the service, as his mother was beginning in- 
wardly to congratulate herself that for once, ho had kept 
Agriculturist. It is here given as a pattern for some of 
our young friends, who have procured a set of the blocks 
to work by. No doubt, some of yon could build a more 
tasteful structure, and if you succeed in making one that 
looks better, and will send a drawing or photograph of it, 
we may have it engraved, and call it the model building, 
until some one else succeeds in showing something more 
elegant. This will exercise the ingenuity and taste of 
all who may make the trial, whether successfully or not. 
^"ew Puzzles to l>e Answered, 
No. 2G7, Word Puzzle.— Mace, Nutmegs, Raisins, Rice, 
Sugar, Tea, Salt, Lettuce— half the letters in these words, 
with half a letter added, will name a well-known news- 
paper. "vVnat is it? 
No. 26S. Bible Question.— What family of eight persons 
lived on a mountain, and all believed in the "vTord of God ? 
Answers to Frowlesns ~.iad Puzzles. 
The following are answers to the puzzles, etc., in the 
May number, page 1ST. No. 2G2. Word Square.— Peak, 
Ease, Asia., Real.... No. 2G3. Illustrated Bebus.—Bezr 
and forbear; with long-suffering overcome your foes 
No. 264.— Geographical Enigma.— No correct answers re- 
ceived No. 265. Afitfc- 
metkal Problem. Twelve 
minutes. — The follow- 
ing have sent in correct 
answers. " S. G., M Jane, 
Robert and S. II. Mc- 
Necl, George and Mary 
Carver, II. T. McCrea, 
MaggieTJnderwood,Hen- 
rietta Clayton, F. W. 
Livingston, Mcintosh 
Robertson, Ninnic J. 
Winn, Kate Fuller, Mary 
V. Caper, Augustas c. 
Busby, N. T. Wikoff, L. 
M. Wright, Jae, M. Dan- 
Ber,LU. Webber, R.W. 
Fair, Wm. II. Elliott, 
Mrs. C. Eddy, Mary E. 
Relgart, E. C. Haines, 
Ephraim A. Chapman, 
,1 W.H.H.,"H.C.Twil- 
ley, "T.D. s,;w m ..\. 
Fulton, Mrs. O. Mefibrd, 
Charles E. Hawkins, 
Matthias Barricklow, 
Samuel P. Soib, Isaac T. 
McLain, E. P. Brown, 
Belcher and Samuel. T. 
E. Lockwood, Andrew 
Jackson, Algernon R. 
HcChesney, W. S. Ne- 
gus. S. Gussie Kilgore, 
Alice Suit, Laura Dickson. Hugh W. Kay, M. Mulloncy, 
Bessie. Clara H. Schironck, Harry 3. Watkins, S. Lano. 
