CHAPTER XI 



Shoots 



If we take a branch of lilac or any other 

 shrub, in the angle called the axil formed 

 by each leaf with the branch that bears it, we 

 find a small rounded body, clothed with brown 

 scales. This is a shoot or, as it is sometimes 

 called, an eye. 



Shoots are found at fixed points : there is 

 one at the axil of each leaf and one at the 

 extremity of the branch. Those which are 

 placed at the axils of the leaves are axillary 

 shoots / the one at the end of the branch is a 

 terminal shoot. They are not all equally 

 vigorous, the stronger ones being at the 

 upper end of the branch, and the weaker ones 

 below. Those sheltered in the axil of the 

 lower leaves are so small that some attention 

 is needed to detect them, and without care 

 these weakly shoots will often waste away 

 without developing. In a branch of lilac it is 



65 E 



