Growth of Buds and Branches 



41 



In spring, when the buds were tender and full of sap, insects 

 pierced them with a sharp lance they carry with them, the 

 ovipositor, and placed an egg in the centre of each one. 

 Shortly after, from each egg a small white grub was hatched, 

 which passed all that stage of its life in solitary confinement. 



Fig. 45. — Branch thorns of Kei 

 Apple. 



Fig. 46. — Branch thorns of Pome- 

 granate. 



Its presence caused the bud to swell so that the few leaves 

 usually formed were not sufficient to protect the mass of tender 

 cells. A great number are stimulated to 

 growth which give the bud the appearance of 

 a small cone. Different combinations of 

 insect and plant give galls of various forms. 

 When they have reached full size (as shown by 

 last year's galls), you can split some through 

 the centre and view the cause of all the dis- 

 turbance. 



Disguised Branches. — Some branches 

 are so altered in appearance that it is not at 

 first evident what they are. In the Kei Apple 

 and Pomegranate it can be seen that the 

 thorns are branches, because they rise from 

 the axils of leaves. In the Pomegranate the 

 end of a branch becomes a thorn. A leaf on 

 a thorn also tells us that it is a branch. Some 

 branches develop into tendrils. Collect as many tendril-bear- 



FiG. 47. — Leaf- 

 like branches 

 of Asparagus. 



