136 Natural Theology. 



The structure of all leaf-buds is essentially the 

 same, and in some of our trees, as in the horse-chest- 

 nut, they can be examined without difficulty. The 

 delicate leaves all formed, are closely packed together 

 in softest down. They are then covered with closely 

 fitting scales, and these again by a coating of inso- 

 luble varnish. Mechanically, the whole contrivance 

 is perfect, and the work most skilfully done. In 

 adapting means to ends, the structure of the bud is 

 not surpassed by any work of man. 



But that bud is first to put out leaves, and these 

 leaves are the organs for elaborating sap. How shall 

 the tree, stripped of its leaves, supply itself with 

 food while pushing out the myriad of new leaves 

 from its buds ? Like the instinct-guided bee, it has 

 laid up provision for the time of need. When it has 

 nearly finished its growth for one year, it makes 

 provision for the year that is to come. In the axle 

 of the leaf, the bud is set which, another spring, is 

 to unfold in leaves and elongate into the branch. 

 While this bud is fashioned and set in its place, food 

 is also stored up in the tissues in form of starch and 

 sugar and other organic materials for the support of 

 that bud while expanding its leaves. The same 

 principle is seen in a more striking manner in some 

 of our cultivated plants. 



The potato is only a thickened underground stem. 

 Its eyes correspond to the buds upon the common 

 branch ; and the store of starch, so nutritious for 

 food, was placed there to develop those eyes into 

 stems at the appointed time. When the potato 



