OF BUDS. 45 



tlie formation of buds. Those little embryo plants, so nicely wrappea 

 up in downy scales as to be able to bear the coldness of winter, in tho 

 ensuing spring will come forth from their snug retreats, and taking 

 the places of the leaves which had withered in autumn, dehght us 

 with new verdure and beauty. 



The poet Cowper, in the following lines on the formation of buds, 

 shows us the improvement which the pious make, in observing the 

 phenomena of nature. 



" When all this uniform uncoloured scene, 



Shall be dismantled of its fleecy load, 



And flush into variety again, 



From dearth to plenty, and from death to life, 



Is Nature's progress, when she lectures man 



In heavenly truth ; evincing, as she makes 



The grand transition, that there lives and w^orks 



A soul in all things, and that soul is God. 



He sets the bright procession on its way, 



And marshals all the order of the year ; 



He marks the bounds which -ivinter may not pass. 



And blunts his pointed fury j in its case, 



Russet and rude, folds up the tender germ, 



Uninjured, with inimitable art ; . 



And ere one flowery season fades and dies, 



Designs the blooming wonders of the next." 



Some French botanists,* have explained the formation of the scaly 

 covering of buds in a manner somewhat different from the generally 

 received opinion. They suppose, that in the latter part of summer, 

 the eye is formed, and that the young shoot forces its way through 

 the bark, but the young leaves which would put forth, becoming 

 chilled by the ungenial atmosphere of the coming winter, contract 

 and harden, and at length form scales ; and that these scales after- 

 ward protect the new leaves, which, urged by the same vegetable 

 instinct, are, in their turn, seeking to emerge into light and air. If 

 we admit this explanation with respect to the formation of scales, it 

 seems not difficult to account for the covering of varnish, which de- 

 fends the embryo leaves and fiowers from moisture. When the leaf 

 becomes a scale, it then absorbs from the sap but a portion of what 

 was destined for its use, and the remaining sap may be converted 

 into the resinous substance, or varnish. With respect to the downy 

 coat upon the inside of the scale.s, this may be seen in the rudiments 

 of the leaves, if examined before the bud is developed. These hy- 

 potheses do not, in any degree, derogate from the wisdom of Him, 

 who, " with art inimitable, folds up the tender germ ;" for whether 

 He acts by secondary causes, or " speaks, and it is done," design 

 IS alike apparent in all his works. 



The term bud, in common language, extends to the rudiments of 

 all plants, whether with scales or without, which originate upon other 

 living plants. Buds with scales are chiefly confined to the trees of 

 cold countries. In the northern part of the United States, there are 

 few trees which can endure the cold weather, without this security. 

 In Sweden, it is said, there is but one shrubf destitute of buds, and 

 this, from the peculiarity^ of its situation, is always protected from 

 the inclemencies of weather. 



* De Candolle, and others. 



t A species of Rhamnus, which grows under trees, in marshy forests. 



Period in which the formation of buds commences— Opinion of some botanists with 

 respect to the scaly covering of buds— The term bud, how extensive in its api'licatioa 

 -Scaly buds chiefly confined lo cold countries. 



