ANATOMY or PI- ANTS. 19.'{ 



branches, and, towards harvest, increase gradually in circum- 

 ference and size. They always arise out of those reservoirs, 

 are outwardly surrounded by variously coloured scales, which 

 are often bound together by a substance of a resinous nature, 

 and contain within them leaves or leafy scales, which are 

 placed upon one another and bound t(jgether in a peculiar 

 manner. They are found, for instance, in the Ash, (Tab. 

 IV. Fig. 5.), mutually riding, as it were, on each other ; and 

 they have a similar construction in the Alder; (Tab. IV^ 

 Fig. 2.) In the Salisburia they stand clenching each other ; 

 (Tab. IV. Fig. 7.) In the Horse-Chesnut, and in the Medlar, 

 they are folded into each other; (Tab. IV. Fig. 6.) In some 

 trees these scaly coverings are in a very small number, as in the 

 Guelder-rose bush, (Tab. IV. Fig. 8.) ; and especially in tlie 

 Tuhp-tree ; (Tab. IV. Fig. 3. 4.) These scales have either 

 the future leaves lying between them, as in the Alder, (Tab. 

 IV. Fig. 2.) ; or the leaves are found only in the centre of 

 the bud. In most instances the future leaves are folded and 

 bent in a variety of ways. A woolly sort of substance also is 

 often found between them, which evidently serves to keep off 

 the cold, to prevent the influx of superfluous moisture, and 

 to be a defence against other external injuries. The bud is of- 

 ten so protected by the closely shut and firmly agglutinated 

 scales, that no external power can have effect upon it, unless 

 it is inflicted by a very powerful cause. Until these cover- 

 ings unfold themselves, the bud can only be nourished by the 

 reservoir from which it arises. 



305. 



In many instances buds contain only leaves, but in other 

 cases they inclose also the rudiments of the future blossom. 

 Hence, in fruit trees, we commonly divide them into Wood 

 and Fruit buds. The former, which are of a smaller size and 

 more pointed, contain only the future leaf; the latter of 

 greater roundness, discover, when they are cut through, the 

 germ of the coming flower. However, they pass into one 

 another ; for the active and more perpendicular movement of 

 the unformed sap is their producing cause ; but the fruit-buds 



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