BUDS AND BRANCHES 



109 



K> 



ss 



stances, will not further develop but remain dormant 

 Thus the whole of the shoot from the 

 rings of scale-scars to the large ter- 

 minal bud has been developed during 

 one season from the terminal bud of 

 the previous year. The internodes 

 between the scale-scars elongate very 

 little, and this part of the axis remains 

 practically in the condition in which 

 it was formed, while the internodes 

 between the foliage-leaves greatly 

 elongate and separate the leaves by 

 considerable intervals. 



Place two or three shoots in water 

 in the early spring and watch the buds 

 as they open. We are thus able to 

 learn a good deal about the develop- 

 ment of a shoot. The photographs 

 (Fig. 68, 1-9) are taken from shoots 

 so treated. The scales of the unopened 

 bud are covered with hairs, which 

 secrete a sticky mucilage composed of 

 gum and resin. This covers the surface 

 and binds the scales together, and, 

 with the thick scales, provides a double 

 protection for the young leaves within. 



Watch the scales as the bud opens, 

 and follow their movements. At first 

 they are incurved and clasp the inner 

 leaves, later they turn outwards and 

 backwards out of the way, the higher, 

 bigger scales growing for some time 

 and arching over the pleated, woolly 

 foliage-leaves felted together with a 

 tangle of hairs. The stalks elongate and carry the blades 



Is. 



"V. 



3 



Fig. 66. Winter 

 Shoot of Horse- 

 Chestnut. d, dor- 

 mant bud ; /, lenticel ; 

 l.s, leaf-scar; s.s, scale- 

 scars ; v, broken ends 

 of leaf- veins. 



