0/2 the Physicilogy of Vegetnhles, 175 



tlie division between the bud and the wood, occupied by the 

 juice, is plainly seen preparing its way: and every person on 

 viewing this figure, and who is apt to notice what they .«ee, will. 

 recolltct this perpetual mark in the wood (o), which is nothing 

 more than the passing flower-bud : but tlie bud (as I have be- 

 fore sliown) does not force its passage, for the juice precedes it, 

 and has the power of bending the wood twigs both ways from 

 the bud, forming a complete covered ivay for it, tliat with the 

 help of the liquid it may pass without pressure : but .as soon lis 

 the bud has pas.ved, the wood part recovers its usual situatiou, 

 and is restored, l)y the help of the returning action of the nnj'i- 

 fles, to its usual position. There is scarcely indeed a more cu- 

 rious process in the formation of plants than this: " that so solt 

 a body should be able to pass {^without ivjvry) through so hard 

 a substance, is most wonderful ! But does not the basket-maker 

 wet his twigs before he attempts to bend them? and do not the 

 sticks (if a wet sponge is placed betv.een them) soon bv a curve 

 leave each side of the sponge hollow, as the twigs have done at 

 fig. 3? and does not the juice before mentioned act for the same 

 purpose? Thus all is in ?iature. Before the bud reaches the 

 €nd of the wood (which it is some time in doing) the cradle or 

 winter bud (which is still emptv) becomes coveied with a thick 

 andi glutinous liquid, varnishing her scales, to defend the interior 

 (or that which v.ill soon become so) from the cold. This I have 

 generally found to be the signal " that the embryo of the flower- 

 bud has entered her case." Several specimens muet be taken 

 about this time, each day, that the flower-bud may be well as- 

 certained to have entered her new habitation: her string will 

 still attend her, for she loses all power of contiiuiiiig her journey 

 if it breaks. Mucli pains appears to be taken to prevent the 

 bud being hurt at this time; for though it is much covered with 

 scales, it must still be more exposed than it can be in the interior 

 of the plant. I have repeatedly cut specimens perpendicularly, 

 when the bud was preparing to pass within its new habitation 

 and to arrange itself there ; and no part of the process can be 

 plainer : in some plants a part of the wood accompanies the hvd, 

 and does not permit the i^ark to approach it: — this is the case in 

 the marvel of Peru. No alteration is discovered in the next 

 few dissections : the flower-bud remains for a shoit time |;cr- 

 fectly torpid in outward appearance, though the interior of the 

 bud is pre|jaring for its next change. Then is formed that cu- 

 rious specimen exhibited in my last letter, and in this at iig. -I. 

 This part must be pursued with great exactness-, taking up a 

 fresh plant every day for dissection. It will then be observed 

 that the bud is again moved, and tinown up into the new shoot. I 

 should never have discovered this, had I not observed the buds 



throw 



