BUDS AND BRANCHES. 71 



far from being destitute of a power to escape. It is true that 

 they are exposed to the inclemency of the season, and are 

 threatened with destruction on every side, but so powerful and 

 varied are the defences with which nature has furnished them, 

 that they seem to be all but indestructible. How innumerable 

 are the buds with which a tree is covered ! * How complete 

 their protective apparatus against the winter's cold ! We have 

 seen that each bud, although it remains in union with the 

 parent tree, is nevertheless capable of .forming the germ of an 

 independent life. If not developed, it only awaits the destruc- 

 tion of its associates to enter the breach, repair the injury, and 

 continue by its growth the battle of the living principle in the 

 plant against the hostile forces of nature. Endowed with such 

 powers of defence, a tree will grow and lift its majestic and 

 massive stem for centuries to the air and light of heaven, and 

 if after thus long and bravely conflicting with nature, it should 

 be finally prostrated by the power of the tempest, if its con- 

 nection with the soil still continues, the reserved and buried 

 buds of other years shall issue forth a new phalanx of defence, 

 and renew successfully the struggle of the plant for life. 



