Growth of Buds and Branches. 39 



If the terminal bud continues for a few seasons and then 

 dies, the tree has a broader, bushier habit. Why does the 

 weeping willow weep? If you examine the ends of the 

 branches they will tell you. The branch grows for a season, 

 and at the close the terminal bud dies. The lateral bud takes 

 the nourishment and pushes the main bud to one side, which 

 gives a drooping habit the reverse of the Norfolk pine. 



Fig. 43. — Terminal bud of a Fig. 



Fig. 44. — Galls on Cliffortia. 



Galls. — The tips of Cliffortia, AsJ>alathiis,3ind other shrubs 

 often have peculiar terminal buds. We know they will not 

 produce flowers. Cliffortia has two kinds of flowers, but they 

 are not borne at the tips of branches. These swollen buds are 

 Galls. In spring, when the buds were tender and full of sap^ 

 insects pierced them with a sharp lance they carry for that 

 purpose, 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. 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 have to be formed, which give the bud the 



