﻿456 Scott: A Study of Pasture Trees and Shrubbery 



While the forms taken by the haws are perhaps more striking 

 they are no more characteristic than those assumed by the oaks. 

 Here as a rule only a single axis is developed, from the sides of 

 which short branches are put out. Usually the topmf)st pair are 

 longer than any of the others or if the browsing is particularly 

 severe there may be a swelling at the top from which several 

 branches arise (Fig. 7). Here the 

 presence of dead stubs, indicating 

 the axes which have been killed by 

 the cattle is a striking feature. 

 The head shown in Fig. 8 is typical 

 of what is usually seen. 



The reason for the difTerence 

 in habit between the oaks and the 

 haws lies, I believe, in the fact that 

 the oaks throw almost their whole 

 strength of growth into a single 

 bud so that when uninterrupted 

 growth has been permitted by the 

 cattle, even for a short time, some 

 one axis will be seen to be much 

 longer than any of the others. 

 While, as has been shown, the 

 growth of the haws is more diffuse, 

 ^ the number of axes increasing with 

 I the removal of each tip and all 

 t elongating at an approximately 

 • equal rate. As a matter of fact it 

 " appears that in general the oaks, 

 when able to reach an independent 

 stage at all, do so in fewer years than the haws. On the other 

 hand the haws are able to stand the more severe punishment. 



At times, when the terminal bud is greatly interfered with it 

 may not be possible to identify the dominant axis. Evidence of 

 the general tendency is, however, usually furnished by a study of 

 the growth of successive years. Coupled with the emphasized 

 growth of a single bud is the habit of putting out but few branches 

 in response to the removal of the terminal portion of an axis. 





