AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 



T 



-L 



To increase Branching of Stems. As the stem 

 lengthens the most rapidly just behind the growing 

 point, or tip, of the stem, we may check the growth of 

 the stem by pinching off the terminal node. In this 

 way branching will be increased, be- 

 cause by checking the growth of the 

 terminal node the growing strength 

 of the plant is stimulated at points 

 farther back. This corresponds to 

 the pruning of the root to increase 

 root branching. 



Buds. A bud is a resting grow- 

 ing point. It may develop into a leaf 

 and then is called a leaf bud, or into a 

 flower and is called a flower bud. The 

 main stem grows by the develop- 

 ment of the terminal, or end bud, the 

 branches grow by the development of 

 lateral, or side, buds. As the lateral 

 buds usually grow in the crotches, or 

 axils, of leaves, they are also called axillary buds. Very 

 often there are several buds grouped in some way in a 



single leaf axil, one above 

 the other, as in the butter- 

 nut, or side by side, as in 

 the box elder. 



Lateral buds are pro- 

 duced in early summer 

 and usually remain dor- 

 mantuntil the next spring, 

 but if the terminal bud 

 is destroyed, the lateral buds may be stimulated to 

 growth the same summer that they are formed. In 



FIG. 57. Buds. 

 T, terminal ; L, lateral. 



FIG. 58. Sycamore Bud protected by 

 the Petiole. 



