hiiijjc j^frccii li.iir}- l)ii(l ,it the end of a stem se\eral 

 feet in length, and whilst \ou are lookiiiLj the 

 sepals or cah'x leaves suddcnl)' divide and fall 

 • )(T, the mass of vix'id scarlet petals crumpled into 

 a thousand folds bc<^ins to open out, and before 

 loii^ the glorious flower, which is often as much as 

 seven inches across, holds itself erect in majestic 

 beaut)-. 



Those who possess a tulip-tree will hud its 

 openiuLj buds reward examination. The leaves 

 are folded in half and bent double, a pair of 

 leaf-scales enclosing each of the true leaves. One 

 may unpack the entire bud until we come to 

 leaves almost to(j minute to be discerned. 



YouuLj sycamore-trees often have buds of lar<^e 

 size and brilliant crimson colour ; the foldings of 

 their lea\es are \er}' intricate, and form an interest- 

 iiii;" contrast to th(»sc of the tulip-tree. Hart's-ton<;ue 

 fern, arum, and pear leaves afford three \er\' remark- 

 able modes of foldin<j in the bud. 



.Another point of character in buds is of consider- 

 able importance to the horticulturist, namel)', the 

 fact that in some cases the \aluc of the flowers 

 produced \aries with the position of the buds. For 



