16 MEMBERS OF PLANTS 



leaves and flowers from the cold of winter. Hence 

 there are no buds (because they are not wanted) in the 

 plants of warm climates, and in our hot-houses ; that 

 is, the embryo leaves at the base of the full grown 

 ones, have no bud scales ', a circumstance which holds 

 also in alder-buckthorn, and in most herbs. Buds are 

 indeed in most respects like bulbs. 



Buds have various forms, but are most usually oval 

 or roundish, composed on the outside of tough, some- 

 what leathery scales, closely tiled, frequently covered 

 with a gummy resin, and internally kept warm by a 

 thick downy substance between the several tender 

 scales or leaves. 



Theoretical writers of the present day represent the 

 scales of buds as abortive or imperfect leaves, leaf- 

 scales, or leaf-stalks ; but in creation there is nothing 

 imperfect, and the scales of buds are as perfect and 

 as beautifully contrived as any leaf or flower. 



The covering or winter case 2 of a bud, including 

 both the outer hard scales and several inner ones soft 

 and downy, is only a temporary protection, by keeping 

 out water and keeping in warmth, for the central 

 part 3 , and for the most part fall off when the latter 

 enlarges in growth. 



The central part of a bud may either contain embryo 

 leaves, or embryo flowers. When it contains leaves 

 only 4 , it lengthens upwards as it expands into a branch, 



(1) In Latin, Tegmenta. (2) In Latin, Hybernaculum. 



(3) In Latin, Embryo, objectionably Germen. 



(4) In Latin, Gemma follfer:t. 



