102 



INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY 



some of the poplars and the horse-chestnut, they are cemented 

 together by a resinous varnish. These coatings of some- 

 what cold-proof and water-proof materials ^* increase the 

 value of the scales as a protection Axggyf against sud- 

 den changes in the weather during the JjSF^i colder months. 

 In mixed buds the flowers are ^^ usually inclosed 

 by the leaves and develop first /fia (fig- 84, 7?). 



95. Opening of buds. Long 

 are ready to open they usu- 

 this increase in size may 



before winter buds 

 ally begin to swell, and 

 continue through several 

 months. The actual opening 



| /j/ sometimes goes on rather rap- 



2 idly, the scales being shed in 

 such numbers as almost to 

 carpet the ground, as they do, 

 for example, in beech woods. 

 The rudimentary flowers are 

 generally much more sensi- 

 tive to cold than the young 

 leaves are, as every fruit 

 grower knows. Flower buds 

 are not so likely to be injured 

 by continued cold weather 

 as by severe frosts coming 

 after the buds are partially 

 open. On this account the 

 growing of fruits which are 

 not very hardy (such as the 

 peach) is safest in those parts 

 of the Northern states where 

 the spring comes on late and 

 without interruptions. Parts 

 of the eastern shore of Lake 

 Michigan are for this reason 

 well adapted to peach growing. Damage to buds often comes 

 rather from sudden changes than from extremely low temperatures. 



FIG. 88. Rapidly grown twigs of horse- 

 chestnut in winter condition 



b.sc, bud-scale scars ; ii, i^, i 3 , internodes ; 

 I, lateral buds ; t, terminal buds ; sc, leaf 

 scars. The portion i^-i z and the large 

 terminal bud grew during the preceding 

 spring and summer. The opposite lateral 

 twigs are of the same age as the portion 

 ij-ig. One third natural size 



