THE BUD AND THE BRANCH 3 



axil of each. It is now seen that some of 

 these bud-like parts are longer than others, 

 and that the longest ones are those which have 

 leaves. It must be because of the leaves that 

 they have increased in length. The body c has 

 lost its leaves through some accident, and its 

 growth has ceased. In other words, the parts at 

 a a a a are like the shoot / ft,- except that they 

 are shorter, and they are of the same age. One 

 grows from the end or terminal bud of the main 

 branch, and the others from the side or lateral 

 buds. Parts or bodies which bear leaves are, 

 therefore, branches. 



4. The buds at b b b b have no leaves, and 

 they remain the same size that they were a year 

 ago. They are dormant. The only way for a 

 mature bud to grow is by making leaves for it- 

 self, for a leaf will never stand below it again. 

 The twig, therefore, has buds of two ages, those 

 at b b b b are two seasons old, and those on the 

 tips of all the branches (a a a a, h) , and hi the 

 axil of every leaf, are one season old. It is only 

 the terminal buds which are not axillary. Buds 

 are buds only so long as they remain dormant. 

 When the bud begins to grow and to put forth 

 leaves, it gives rise to a branch, which, in its 

 turn, bears buds. 



5. It will now be interesting to determine why 



