27 
\ 
plane. In such a case, the outline of the branch 
is formed by a series of long curves placed exactly 
opposite each other and terminating at the seat of 
the buds themselves, as if equal antagonistic forces 
operating on opposite sides took opposite directions 
in order to neutralise each other. 
62. hen branches have to be represented in the 
absence of leaves, it is important to bear in mind 
that the scars left by the leaves which once existed 
on them have a definite form. A leaf always has the 
lower end of its stalk shaped in a well-defined manner, 
which varies with species. Now, since scars are the 
spaces left by leaves when they drop off, scars must 
correspond with the peculiar form of the object which 
fell away. If we examine the branches of different 
plants, we scarcely find two species the scars of 
which are exactly alike; and gardeners and others 
accustomed to plants know them, although the 
leaves are absent, by the peculiarity of the branches 
and their scars. Take the common horse chesnut 
as an example. In that plant the scars consist of a 
double curve, resembling a crescent with the horns 
rounded off. This arises from the base of the leaf¬ 
stalk of the horse chesnut having that figure. Such 
differences arc often very remarkable, and a person 
accustomed to observe correctly would as justly 
criticise a drawing which, representing a branch, the 
leaves of which were gone, should show it inac¬ 
curately in this respect, as if any other fault, more 
obvious to untrained eyes, had been committed. 
63. This may be familiarly illustrated by a branch 
of the Fig tree or the Magnolia, in which a careless 
observer can probably see nothing beyond what may 
be found on an Elm or a Linden tree. Undoubtedly, 
B 2 
