LECT. VIII.] ORIGIN OF BRANCHES. 391 



^^ given off, as at a. the diaphragm 



*mi$[ IS Com pl ete 5 but at ^ (P- 390), 



where there is a bud only, it is in- 

 complete; and this is farther dis- 

 played at c. in a transverse section of the shoot. 



We are now prepared to consider the phy- 

 siology of the parts that have been just demon- 

 strated. We have seen that the rudiment of the 

 bud is perceptible, in the axilla of the leaf, on 

 the young branch at the moment of its protrusion 

 from the bud in early spring; and that at this 

 period, at least, it is an isolated body, distinct, 

 as Gaertner has correctly asserted, from the pro- 

 per and permanent members of the plant *. The 

 question thence occurs, When and how are buds 

 formed ? Du Hamel supposed that they originate 

 in what he terms preorganized germs, which are 

 deposited by the proper juice in its descent from 

 the leaves, and pervade every part of the plant -f-: 

 but, although it is impossible to demonstrate the 

 fallacy of this opinion ; yet, if it can be shown 

 that buds, on whatever part of a stem or branch 

 they are found, or at whatever period of the 

 growth of these members they appear, can be 

 traced to their origin in the first year's growth of 



* De Fructibus. Introd. 

 f Phys. des Arbres, torn. i. 



c c 4 



