62 Elementary Work in Botany. 



niens only one bud, and that at the last node in the axil of 

 a leaf not yet unfolded. We do find, however, two buds in 

 the axil of each of the upper leaves; and lower down, per- 

 haps, one of these has developed into a short branch bearing 

 one or more leaves. There are then in the axil of a very 

 young leaf, at the tip of each growing vine, three buds. One 

 immediately develops into a continuation of the vine whose 

 stem there changes into a tendril, another soon becomes a 

 short leaf-bearer, and the third waits until next season when 

 it may or may not be called upon to do the work of vine- 

 making. In vineyards all the buds left after pruning 

 usually grow. Observe, if possible, what becomes of the 

 tendrils which do not help to hold the vine. Fig. 48 

 represents a tendril which had much to do.* 



EXERCISE 35. 



Flowers and Their Organs. Plants must die, there- 

 fore they provide for the continued existence of their kind. 

 Since from the beginning of plant life this has been a neces- 

 sary work, the organs for accomplishing it have reached a 

 higher condition than those used for any other purpose. 

 The highest work done by the plant, therefore, is the mak- 

 ing of seed, and the highest plants are those which have the 

 seed-making organs the floral leaves most changed from 

 their original forms in the way that will enable them to 



*The tendrils of peas, squash, melons, passion-flower, Virginia creeper and 

 other plants may be studied out of school and the results placed in the notebooks. 

 Some are homologous with branches and some with leaves or parts of leaves. 



