1. Observation

Bring to class several twigs of trees; for example, elm, oak, cottonwood, maple.

Examine each twig. Find the buds, the leaf scars showing where the leaves were fastened last year, and the ring scars which show where a new year's growth began.

Are the buds above or below the leaf scars? Are they opposite or alternate in arrangement? Are there buds at the ends of the twigs, or terminal buds? If there are, are they of the same size and shape as the side, or lateral, buds? Will anything come from the buds besides leaves?

2. Drawing

Draw a twig showing everything that you have discovered. Label it neatly.

3. Written Exercise

Write a description of a twig in good clear sentences. Describe the size, shape, color, and arrangement of buds, the position of leaf scars, the color of the bark, the length of a year's growth.

Or you may write a comparison of two twigs.

1 For further suggestions see Nature Study and Agricultural Leaflets prepared by Alice Jean Patterson and Lora M. Dex-heimer, and published by John G. Coulter, Bloomington, 111.