244 FIRESIDE SCIENCE. 



was diverted away from the buds by the great 

 demands of the expanding summer foliage, so that 

 their growth was slow. They remain immature 

 until the summer leaves begin to fall, when the 

 sap flows towards the buds, and they are perfected. 

 The winter dress of trees has a purpose in the 

 economy of plant life. The structure in winter 

 does not demand nutrition, but it must have pro- 

 tection, and this the buds afford. In them is 

 stored up all the beauty and glory of the vegeta- 

 tion of the coming year, and thus they possess an 

 interest of the highest kind. Nature is very care- 

 ful of these buds, for it seems to be understood that 

 in them exist latent forms of life, most intimately 

 connected with the welfare of the race. In order 

 fully to protect them, they are compressed together 

 very tightly in the smallest possible space, and are 

 covered in under an air-tight and water-tight roof. 

 The outer layer of buds is either covered by a 

 warm coat of fine hairs, or cemented closely with a 

 resinous or glutinous secretion, which resists the 

 action of water. How wise and careful is Nature 

 in all her wonderful operations ! Can we doubt for 

 a moment the existence of a great and good Being, 

 who guides and directs all these movements ? 



