OF BUDS. 67 



spect to the downy coat upon the inside of the scales, this may 

 be seen in the rudiments of the leaves, if examined before the 

 bud is developed. 



These hypotheses do not, in any degree, derogate from the 

 wisdom of Him, of whom Cowper says, that " with art inimi- 

 table, he folds up the tender germ;" for whether He acts by 

 secondary causes, or " Speaks and it is done," the design is 

 alike apparent. 



The term bud, in common language, extends to the rudi- 

 ments of all plants, whether with scales or without, which ori- 

 ginate upon other living plants. Buds with scales are chiefly 

 confined to the trees of cold countries. In the northern part 

 of the United States, there are few trees wjiich can endure the 

 cold weather, without this security. In Sweden, it is said, 

 there is but one shrub* destitute of buds, and this from the 

 peculiarity of its situation, is always protected from the in- 

 clemencies of the weather. 



It appears that no perennial plants, but those furnished with 

 scaly buds, can live in climates where it snows a part of the 

 year ; the trees of the torrid zone, the wood of which appears 

 hard and firm, perish in our climate. In warm climates the 

 buds of the trees are without scales, as the tender shoots do not 

 need their protection. 



That there is, in reality, a difference in the nature of vege- 

 tables, as well as animals, is very apparent ; an orange tree 

 will never form scales to protect its buds from cold, any more 

 than the most delicate tropical animals can resist the rigors of 

 a polar climate. There are cases however in which plants, as 

 well as animals, change their habits. The horse-chesnut, in 

 India, its native climate, unfolds its leaves to the atmosphere, 

 without their receiving any check in their developement ; in a 

 colder climate, the leaves in attempting to unfold, are checked 

 in their progress, and degenerate into scales, and form buds. 



Monocotyledonous plants seldom produce more than one bud 

 annually. On the summit of the palm appears the bud, con- 

 taining the leaves and flowers ; from the centre of this bud, a 

 footstalk springs up bearing the flower, while the leaves spread 

 out at its base. The following year the old leaves decay, 

 forming by their indurated remains a ring around the stipe of 

 the palm, and a new bud is formed upon its summit as before. 



* A species of Wiamnus, which grows under trees, in marshy forests. 



These hypotheses, if admitted, do not derogate from the wisdom of the Crea- 

 tor The term bud, how extensive in its application Scaly buds chiefly con- 

 fined to cold countries Difference in the nature of vegetables Plants some- 

 times change their habits; example, the horse-chesnut Buds of the palm. 



