CUTTINGS 179 



127. Buds. If we observe buds on a shrub or orchard 

 tree from time to time in the early spring, we notice that 

 some buds grow into shoots that bear leaves only ; others, 

 into shorter shoots that bear both leaves and flowers ; and 

 some into still shorter shoots that produce only flowers. 

 Accordingly, we speak of three kinds of buds, leaf buds, 

 mixed buds, and flower buds. 



The buds of trees and shrubs are formed during sum- 

 mer and fall, and must be protected from freezing during 

 the winter. This protection is afforded largely by a cov- 

 ering of scales, cemented together by a kind of wax. 



128. The leaf is the factory of the plant. In it are 

 manufactured its starch, protein, and oil. The framework 

 of the leaf is largely a collection of veins, which branch 

 more and more on entering the blade or flat part of the 

 leaf. These veins give stiffness to the leaf, and distribute 

 the solids in solution. The tiny openings in the skin of 

 the leaf (mainly on its under side) are its breathing 

 pores. The} 7 are about one tenth as wide as the thickness 

 of this paper. It has been estimated that there are about 

 13,000,000 of these breathing pores in a sunflower leaf. 



III. METHODS OF NON-SEXUAL PROPAGATION 



We have described briefly stem, root, bud, and leaf, because these 

 parts, one or more, are used in propagating some plants asexually. 

 Next we will consider the Jive chief ways in which these parts are used 

 for this purpose : (1) by cuttings ; (2) by using certain modifica- 

 tions of the stem which, in some plants, are especially suited for this 

 purpose ; (3) by layering ; (4) by grafting ; and (5) by budding. 



129. Cuttings are detached parts of a plant's body. A 

 piece of a stem, or of a root, or of a leaf of some plants 

 may be placed in the soil in such a manner as to develop 

 roots at one end. Roses, grapes, currants, gooseberries, 

 and ornamental shrubs are commonly propagated in this 



