ON T»K INTERIOR OF PLANTS. ggg 



which is formed each year next the bark. If so, how comes 

 the bud into the farther part of liie wood f The destination 

 of the bud is to spring without; and to this pajrt it will of 

 course proceed by the shortest road, so that, if it began at 

 the albumen, it would soon attain its situation. But the 

 flower bud, and leaf and flower bud, are really formed on 

 the line of life. When a bud is going to shoot, the Unepf 

 life forms a knot, and a quantity of albumen is directly ge-^> 

 , nerated round it ; and the knot covered by a scale, \Vhile 

 this is doing, the wood is preparing for its reception. Some 

 parcels of the old wood, sinking before it, form abed ; and 

 others, rising above it, prepare a sort of arch over it, in the 

 middle of which it passes, as in a vaulted cave without hin- 

 dramce, or pressure. J have followed hundreds with a sh^rp 

 knife ; and if this is done without injuring the under part, 

 it will be perceived to shine below where the bud is to go, 

 as if varnished. Probably the line of life brings with it u 

 softening liquid for this purpose; and this line is placed 

 next the pith, that the latter might afford the bud plenty of 

 moisture to support and invigorate it in its tirst shooting, and 

 during its journey to the exterior of the tree. Besides, I 

 should suppose that moisture would much contribute to 

 bending the vessels of the wood into the shape required ; 

 basket-makers moiften continually their tvvigp, to bring them 

 to the necessary form ; and nature in this respect acts as the 

 basket-maker. The best sort of wood for seeing the pro- 

 gress of the bud is a pollard, cut for the second time. Best seen in^ 

 and then taken off about February. The buds then P""*^^' 

 are springing from the line of life in numbers. 1 haye a 

 beautiful specimen of a willow, where, from the quantity 

 of buds egressing, the wood forms a complete scollop the 

 whole way. {^ee PI. IX, fig. 2.) It is probable, that these may 

 be the buds of the summer; though I have many reasons to 

 believe that a bud is not near sp long growing as is gene- 

 rally supposed. When the bud has arrived at its (destina- 

 tion in the bark, it ptops ; the leaf and flower bud to form 

 its leaves, which it does before the flowers ; and both to gain 

 those scales and clothing, that enable them to bear the out- 

 ward air ; and, if the air is not mild enough, they remain 

 till it is fit. Every accession of wood at the exterior, forms i^ 



sort 



