"Now look at the pine leaves," he continued. "Here they are. They are more like green spikes than leaves. They have nothing ofthe shape of other leaves. They are called needle-shaped leaves. They grow in a cluster, and there are from two to five of them to form the cluster. They have small scalesat their base. Thus, you see, the difference in the leaves of the two trees makes another distinction.""Are not the firs and pines evergreens, sir?" asked Fred.
"Yes, they are," said Mr. Wilson, "with the single exception of the larch. This, like most other trees, sheds its leaves in the autumn. All the rest of the pine and fir family are evergreens, and in this again they differ from the oak."Lesson 12
Gravity
"We know that if we let a ball, a stone, or a body of any kind drop from our hands, it must come to the ground," said Mr. Wilson. "Now which of you has ever seen a balloon floating in the air? You all have. Very well. Perhaps one of you may have seen the men in the balloon throwing something out?""I have seen them throw the sand out to lighten the balloon," said Willie.
"Quite true," said Mr. Wilson, "and what became of the sand?""It fell to the ground."