Ch V1II.1 BUDS. 45 



the swelling of the germ : aiid as for this purpose tne agancy 

 of an additional quantity of sap is needed, we see the bud ap 

 pearmg at the axils of leaves, or the extremities of branches 

 and stems, where there is an accumulation of this fluid. If you 

 plant a slip of Geranium, you will observe that it either sprouts 

 from the axil of a leaf, or from knots in the stem which answer 

 the same purpose as the leaf, by slightly interrupting the cir- 

 culation of juices, and thus affording an accumulation of sap 

 necessary for the production of a new shoot. 



166. Herbs and shrubs have buds, which usually gi nv and 

 unfold themselves in the same season, and are destitute 01 

 scales ; while the buds of trees are not perfected in less than 

 two seasons, and in some cases they require years for their full 

 development. 



167. You have, no doubt, observed in the spring, the rapid 

 growth of the leaves and branches of trees; and perhaps, have 

 also noticed, that as summer advances, the progress of vegeta- 

 tion seems almost to cease, and that new leaves and branches 

 do not come forth as before ; but you may not have known, that 

 instead of resting in her operations, nature is now busy in pro- 

 viding for the next year; that she is turning the vital energies 

 of the plants to the formation of buds. Those little embryo 

 plants, so nicely wrapped up in downy scales as to be able to 

 bear ihe coldness of the winter, in the ensuing spring will come 

 forth from their snug retreats, and taking the places of the leaves 

 which had withered in autumn, will delight us with new ver- 

 dure and beauty. 



168. You may here see a representation of two 

 Fig. 26. scaly buds : one of which appears as if cut vertical- 

 ly, in order to show the germ or embryo, which is 

 enfolded by the scales. 



169. The term bud, in common language, ex- 

 tends to the rudiments of all plants, whether with 

 scales or without, which originate upon other living 

 plants. Buds with scaly coverings are chiefly con- 

 fined to the trees of cold countries. In the northern 

 part of the United States, there are few trees which 



:an endure the cold weather, without this security. In Swe- 

 den, it is said, there is but one shrub* destitute of scaly buds 



* A species of Rhamnus, which grows under trees in marshy forests. 



16G. Do herbs and shrubs have buds 1 



167. At what period of the year are. buds formed 1 



168. What does Fig. 26 represent 1 



169. In what countries are the trees mostly furnished with scaly 

 bids 1 



