SCOTS PINE. 



(9) The persistence of the foliage-leaves for a number of 

 years, and their fall owing to the cutting-off (by an absciss- 

 layer) of the whole dwarf -shoot. 



(10) The scale-leaves borne on the lower portion of each 

 dwarf -shoot, below the two " needles." 



It will be noticed that the Pine produces two kinds of 

 branches and two kinds of leaves ; the ordinary branches 

 or " long shoots," formed annually in an apparent circle, 

 bear only scale-leaves ; in the axil of each scale-leaf there 

 arises a "dwarf shoot" which bears a number of scale- 

 leaves and a pair of foliage-leaves. 



Examine the buds in autumn or winter. Study with 

 special care the opening of the buds and the early growth 

 of the resulting young shoots, during May and June this 

 is very important, in order to gain a clear idea of the 

 morphology of the plant, as well as for the study of the 

 male and female cones. 



During May and June, visit the trees at frequent inter- 

 vals, or if this cannot be done at least weekly, bring in the 

 cut twigs and set them in water, so as to be able to 

 watch the various stages in the early growth of the shoots. 



515. Resting Ends of Finns. In examining a twig 

 in winter (or in early spring), note that it shows (1) a 

 terminal resting-bud ; (2) a few, usually three or four, 

 smaller lateral resting-buds just below the terminal 

 bud ; (3) one or sometimes more of the lateral buds may 

 be replaced by a one-year-old female cone, green in 

 colour ; (4) each resting-bud is ovoid and pointed, and 

 bears numerous brown scale-leaves, which are covered and 

 stuck together by resin and are arranged spirally (this 

 latter point will be seen more clearly when the bud is 

 expanding later on). 



Treat a resting-bud with alcohol, to remove the resin, 

 detach some of the scale-leaves from it, and note that 

 each scale-leaf has a thickened base and bears a small bud 

 in its axil (excepting those at the very base of the resting- 

 bud). The resting-bud of the Pine might be termed a 

 compound bud, a " bud of buds," since most of the bud- 

 scales have axillary buds. 



