

LIFE STORY OF THE OAK ~- 201 
not dead, for with the on-coming of spring new leaves 
| appear as the warmth of the season 
moves the life into greater activity 
again. : 
The leaf is only an organ of the 
tree for summer work, to make 
starch food, to dispose of the great 
currents of water that are taken up 
by the roots, and to do other work 
in the preparation of foods and in 
WA getting rid of waste matter. When 
Se mee. the leaf is cast in the 




autumn, the tree is only 
dropping a member for 
Fic. 245. Fruit of red oak. 
which it has no use during 
the period of winter rest. Some | 
one may ask why the tree does not 
keep its leaves during the winter 
and save the growing of new ones 
in the spring. It would be fatal 
to most of the broad-leaved trees 
to keep their green leaves through 
the winter. We know that the 
leaves give off quantities of water 
from the tree. During the winter, while the ground 
is frozen or cold, the roots can take up very little 
water, not nearly so miuch as the leaves can give off, 

Fic. 246. Loug-stemmed acorns. 

