There is a small bud between the sued leaves. It lifts _and opens out a pair of true leaves. The lengthening - root takes hold of the soil by means of fine rootlets. The Stigmas thrust out like forked tonvues jfi•ture shows the little tree, relying ff»• its growth upon IAA it pal I Ul 11 0 ea' -tp (_1s aim «atc 1 grow. Try to find out why / 1e outdoes the other.
last picture tells the interesting sequel to the accident that broke off the central bud. nich time remained of that first growing season. The energies of the plant, no longer able to express themselves in terminal growth, forced into shoots the buds that were growing in the arils of the two large leaves. By the. end of the season they had extended to 1), h, one obviously stronger than the other taking the lead. No better proof of vigor is needed, nor of good soil zinc] plenty of sun, than this forcing out of buds intended for the following year.
Spring comes again, and the second year extends the two forks. Tv by two the leaves are unfolded, just as in the first year. The root goes deeper, the stem goes higher. Both add an outside layer of wood and 10,0, 0-e ”1.-- +0 +1,0 1ln 143 11_111,1 aJl IX llJ UTI U11(11, year before, thus adding to their strength as well as to their substance. If both of the limbs persist, the tree will always be forked close to the ground. The chalices are that the smaller one will soon be over shadowed by the larger one,—that it will 1,windle and die. Then the stem will straighten grow on into a single trunk, giving no sign that it ever was a cripple.
It will be worth while to set a stake beside this two-year-old seedling maple, or otherwise mark its place, so that year by year we may note its progress. It is one of many, and truly it lives the strenuous life. The rivalry of these little trees is no playful exercise, — it is a matter of life or death. Choose the food stored in the, seed leaves ; and yet the leaves and the roots promise that before long they will he able to gather food from honest mould and vagabond air,'' that the tree will come to be independent. In the next figure this promised time has come. A faint scar shows where the seed leaves were attached.
Here they shriveled and were finally shed. The stem and root grew longer. Two new leaves unfolded at the top of the stein. But vicissitudes await each little tree. For every well . _ _ grown specimen miner tune parent, tree are twenty cripples. The tender tip of our maple seedling is sacrificed to the appetite of some hungry insect, or it breaks olf in a lashing wind.
How different and yet how much alike are the life histories of these maple trees. Each succeeding year repeats amid multiplies the lahors of the last. Each summer earns the rest of the long winter. The contest for light, for 11/0111, for foothold, and for food becomes more intense as the tree grows. .And when at last the wood-chopper, or the lightning stroke, or the less mexci ffil agencies, insects and diseases, re move the parent tree, its }dace will he taken by that one of its offspring which has overcome in the struggle with its own kind and with other plants which coverthe ground it standson. The young red maple, casting its first seeds upon the ground, enters formally upon its career as a- full grown tree. It is now an integral part of the forest, havifig attained its majority.
Come, then, let us to the woods to(rether to see what is hanoening 1 1 among the trees. Let us inquire of the saplings that form the miniature forest below how it fares with them. Let us find out, if we can, what their past has been, and what are their prospects for the future. Trees speak a language, if only we have the patience to learn it. It is a sign language, and through it they tell ns ,i11 manner of interesting things about how they make their living— about their hopes and their disappointments.
Are you afraid? Do not the denizens of the woods treat you civilly? When have they scolded you, or bitten or stung or poisoned you? These are foolish fancies. Go into the woods without fear. Show yourself friendly, and the forest and all the creatures that dwell together there will delight you with their gentle friendliness.