CHAPTER V 



GROWTH OF BUDS AND BRANCHES 



Part of the food made by the leaves is taken to form the buds 

 for next year's growth. In a dicotyledon a bud is formed in 

 the axil of each leaf, so that if all grew there would be as many 

 branches as there are leaves. Such is not the case ; many buds 

 are crowded out for want of light and air ; others lie dormant 

 low down on the branches as reserves, in case misfortune 

 befall those higher up. The tender tips of branches offer 

 tempting morsels to animals, and even after they are out of 

 reach of grazing animals their dangers are not past. A swarm 

 of locusts may pay an untimely visit, or a strong " south- 

 easter " may scorch and kill leaf and branch in the spring. 



Oaks and poplars retain the fashion that prevails in cold 

 climates of wearing thick coverings to protect their little buds. 

 The same fashion answers for some buds of this country for 

 protection from the heat. Asparagus wraps up its summer 

 buds with little papery coverings. These bud coverings are 

 made of leaves or parts of leaves usually altered for the 

 purpose. 



Some buds contain both leaves and blossoms snugly tucked 

 away together. Others contain only leaves or only blossoms. 

 When the poplars border the streams with a delicate violet tinge, 

 they are just shaking out their fringes of flowers to the breezes. 

 They have been getting ready for the display for many months. 

 Fig. 41 shows at a the flower-buds of a branch picked in 

 December. They are well along towards next spring's flower- 

 ing time. The furry coats on the scales will protect the little 

 flowers from the hot suns of summer, and when winter rains 

 come they will do excellently for storm cloaks until it is time 



