76 BUDS AND BUDDING. 



water. Herbs and shrubs commonly unfold their buds the same sea- 

 son and are without scales, while those of trees are not perfected in 

 less than two, and often not less than several years. In the midst of 

 summer, vegetation seems to cease, but no suspension takes place, as 

 plants are then busy in storing up nourishment for and in forming new 

 buds. Thus the future leaves are safely secured from the coldness of 

 the season, so as to take the place of those which have disappeared. 



Budding implies the expansion of the leaves or flowers in the spring. 

 The first point in the plant which gives rise to the bud is the eye ; when 

 this swells and becomes apparent it is the button, and when this un- 

 folds it is the bud. Some suppose that the eye is formed late in the 

 summer and that the young shoot forces itself through the bark, when 

 the young leaves become chilled. They then contract, harden and 

 form protective scales which, in like manner, seek the light and air. 

 There are no buds scales in warm climates or in hot houses, as they 

 are not needed. Few trees in the United States can endure the cold 

 without them. The scales generally fall off as the interior parts en- 

 large by growth. The manner in which the young leaves are folded 

 or rolled within the bud, varies greatly and is, withal, very curious. 



Frondescence is the period in which any species of plants unfolds 

 its leaves. Linnaeus thought that when the buds of the birch tree 

 opened, barley, etc., should be sown ; and the American indians 

 believed that when the young leaves of the oak were of the size of 

 squirrels's ears, Indian corn should be planted. The orange tree, like 

 most tropical plants, never will form scales for the protection of its 

 buds ; but there are some plants more yielding in their habits, and 

 which ultimately conform to the necessities of colder climates ; the 

 horse chestnut for example. Monocotyledonous plants rarely produce 

 annually more than one bud. The great source of vegetable life is 

 the sap; this is carefully secreted for the growth of the buds during 

 the winter. The axils of leaves or the extremities of branches and 

 stems, where they appear, are at the most suitable places for the accumu- 

 lation of nourishment. Branches originate from buds. Thus we see 

 the wise provisions made for the renewal of branches, leaves, flowers, 

 fruits, etc., and the continuation of the species. 



The flower-bud is usually at the end of small and short branches and 

 is used in grafting, which is done by cutting into the bark of some 

 other tree and placing one or more buds into the place cut ; when in 

 due time, it will bear the fruit of its parent stock. The mixed buds 

 produce both flowers and leaves, as the lilac. Leaf-buds planted in 

 the earth put forth roots and flourish, but flower-buds perish when 

 placed in the earth. 



Bulbs are formed at the base of leaves where they store up nourish- 

 ment for subsequent use. The base leaves are formed in layers, or 

 concentric plates, as in the lily, snow drop, hyacinth, etc. These 



