WINTER TWIGS IN THE HOUSE 



41 



branch shall be long or short ? Describe the opening of a bud. 

 What are flower-buds? Leaf -buds? Mixed buds? How may fruit- 

 buds be distinguished ? What is the " burst of 

 spring"? 



NOTE. It is easy to see the swelling of 

 the buds in a room in winter. Secure branches 

 of trees and shrubs, two to three feet long, and 

 stand them in vases or jars, as you would flow- 

 ers. Renew the water frequently and cut off 

 the lower ends of the shoots occasionally. In a 

 week or two the buds will begin to swell. Of 

 red maple, peach, apricot, and other very early- 

 flowering things, flowers may be obtained in 

 ten to twenty days. Try it. 



The shape, size, and color of the winter 

 buds are different in every kind of plant. By 

 the buds alone botanists are often able to dis- 67. Fruit-bud and leaf -bud 

 tinguish the kinds of plants. Even such similar of a PP le - 



plants as the different kinds of willows have good bud characters. 

 The study of the kinds of buds affords excellent training of the 

 powers of observation. 



The burst of spring in the lilac. 



