130 ROUND THE YEAR 



form (Lilac, Honeysuckle). This is rarely the case 

 with plants which possess divided leaves. Such plants 

 have bud-scales which are enlarged leaf-bases, rudi- 

 ments of the blade and of the stipules being often 

 visible at the tip. Sycamore, Horse Chestnut, Ash, 

 and most Rosaceous trees are examples. The true 

 foliage-leaves may also be enveloped by stipules, 

 which may either be few, green and leaf-like, as in 

 the Alder and Poplar, or numerous, brown, and 

 purely prptective. Oak and Beech buds are of this 

 latter kind. 



A bud is a new shoot, complete or nearly so in all 

 its parts, but as yet unexpanded. It consists of a 

 stem with leaves and leaf-like appendages, and per- 

 haps flowers too. A bud is a thing of slow growth, 

 for though it may only be a quarter of an inch long, 

 it contains a number of perfect, if minute leaves, or 

 flowers, or both. When spring comes round every 

 sunny day is of value, and no time must be lost. 

 Everything is therefore made ready beforehand. The 

 leaves and flowers are all there, of microscopic size 

 and crowded into the smallest space, but with the 

 encouragement of moderate warmth, they soon swell 

 out and unfold. 



The buds of trees and shrubs and other perennial 

 plants are formed months before they expand. Look 

 at a tree in summer or autumn. Close to the base of 

 each leaf, in the angle between it and the branch, or 

 in some cases on the scar of a leaf which has fallen 

 off, you will find small buds. These small buds are 

 those of the following year. It is by no means 

 uncommon to find by careful search at the side of the 



