46 BOTANY FOR DEGINNERS. [Ch. Vlil. 



and this from the peculiarity of its situation, is always protect- 

 ed from the inclemencies of the weather. 



170. That there is, in reality, a difference in the nature of 

 vegetables as well as of animals, is very apparent ; an orange 

 tree will not form scales to protect its buds from cold ; neither 

 can the most delicate tropical animal resist the rigours of a 

 polar climate. 



171. There are cases, however, in which plants, as well as 

 animals, change their habits. The horse-chestnut, in India, its 

 native climate, unfolds its leaves to the atmosphere, without 

 receiving any check in their development; in a colder cli- 

 mate, the leaves, in attempting to unfold, are checked in their 

 progress, degenerate into scales, and form buds. 



172. Of the bud, there are three sorts ; the Jlower-bud, leaf- 

 bud, and mLved-bud. 



173. 1st. The flower-bud, is of a short round form, and con- 

 tains the rudiments of one or several flowers folded over each 

 other, and surrounded with scales. It is often found at the 

 extremities of small short branches; this is the kind of bud 

 which is employed in grafting or inoculating. This operation 

 is performed by cutting into the bark of another tree, and placing 

 a bud in the aperture ; the sap of the tree flows to it. and forms 

 around it a substance which connects the bud to itself; in this 

 situation it shoots forth, and becomes a fruit-bearing branch. 



174. 2d. The leaf-bud contains the rudiments of several 

 leaves without flowers ; it is usually longer and more pointed 

 than the flower-bud. 



175. 3d. The mixed-bud contains both leaves and flowers. 

 In the peach we have examples of the first two divisions, the 

 leaf and flower-bud being distinct ; in the lilac they are enclosed 

 together in the same bud. 



176. You have now seen the manner in which buds com- 

 mence their existence ; and how they gradually unfold them- 

 selves until they become, in their turn, branches covered with 

 leaves and flowers. In considering this subject, you cannot 

 but have been impressed with a sense of the goodness of that 



170. Does there appear to be any difference in the nature of vege- 

 tables 1 



171. Do plants ever change their habits? 



172. How many kinds of buds are there 1 



173. Describe the flower-bud. 



174. Describe the leaf-bud. 



175. Describe the mixed-bud. 



176. What reflections arise when considering the progress of vegeta- 

 ble life? 



