88 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



together constitute the winter bud. It contains 

 very little water in its tissues, and so can with- 

 stand low temperatures without freezing. 



The bud-scales live in a chill and sombre world, 

 and when the sky is blue and full of light they 

 fall and perish in the heart of spring. 



Yet, they are themselves imperfectly-formed and 

 partially-developed leaves. Under certain excep- 

 tional circumstances they have shown their possi- 

 bilities, and developed into typical leaves. And 

 under most circumstances there is in them the 

 arrested power to become like the green foliage of 

 summer. 



Stunted, as they are, these scales have done 

 work which perfect leaves could never do. Their 

 horny substance has shed the cold rains of winter, 

 resisted the frost, and protected the tips and 

 shoots in which the life of the branches lay dor- 

 mant. 



We owe to the bud-scales most of the beauty 

 of the summer world. Their highest usefulness 

 has been attained through sacrifice of their com- 

 plete development. Now their brief lives of 

 service are ended, and as they fall the summer 

 leaves unfold. 



As soon as these new leaves have stretched and 



