266 SYLVAN WINTER. 



rudimentary and imperfectly formed leaves ; 

 under these an incipient'* stem and four leaves, 

 flower-spikes with sixty-eight separate flowers, 

 within the flowers incipient stamens, and on these 

 pollen. Not always indeed is so intricate a 

 system of leaves and flowers discernible within 

 the dark-coloured envelope of a Winter bud ; but 

 there is always in every bud an elaborate and 

 beautiful arrangement for the continuation of the 

 plant* The bud, in fact, is the infinitesimal model 

 of the mature plant, and from it will issue and 

 be repeated, all that has gone before. Buds 

 may be said to be of three kinds ; those which re- 

 produce leaves only, those which reproduce only 

 flowers, and those which reproduce stems, leaves, 

 and flowers. 



In climates where Winters are not severe, the 

 outer scales of buds are, in reality, leaves. But 

 when great protection from frost is requisite, 

 organs that would, under other circumstances, 

 become leaves, degenerate into mere scales, which 

 fall off and wither when the real leaves are 

 unclosed. Such scales are often provided with 

 resinous or gummy substances which are water- 

 proof and prevent the rains of Winter from 



