66 GEMS. PART I. 



derand acute ; and the bud producing both leaf and 

 flower larger than either of the other. The two 

 former varieties may be seen in the buds of the 

 Peach-tree, in which the leaf-bud and flower-bud 

 are always distinct ; and the latter variety may be 

 seen in the fruit-buds of the Horse-chesnut, which 

 are always found to include both leaf and flower. 

 Mode of If two buds are protruded close together, it very 

 Son f ten happens that each is of a different variety ; 

 and if three buds are so protruded, it sometimes 

 happens that you have all the three varieties ; and 

 it has been further remarked that flower-buds which 

 are protruded at a distance from leaf-buds, generally 

 fall without producing fruit. 



Some buds are protruded almost at right angles to 

 the stem or branch, as those of the Fir-tree ; while 

 others are laid so close as to be altogether parallel 

 to it, as those of the Willow. When they are pro- 

 truded from the upper angle formed by the leaf and 

 stem or branch, they are said to be axillary ; and 

 when they are protruded from the extremity of the 

 stem or branch, they are said to be terminating. 

 But the stem or branch of all plants is not always 

 terminated in the same manner. It was an obser- 

 vation of DuhameFs that the stem or branches of 

 plants whose leaves are alternate are generally termi- 

 nated by a solitary bud ; and that the stem or branch 

 of plants whose leaves are opposite are generally ter- 

 minated by three buds, of which the middle one is 

 the largest.* Some buds are smooth on their ex- 



* Physique des Arbres, liv. ii. chap. i. 



