OF BUDS. 



47 



Fig. 34. 



1st. The flower bud, which is of a short 

 round form, and contains the rudiments of 

 one or several flowers, without leaves, fold- 

 ed over each and surrounded with scales. 



Fig. 34, shows at a, the flower bud of the 

 apple, with its scaly covering ; b, shows the 

 spot occupied by the buds of the preceding- 

 year. The flower bud is usually found at 

 the extremities of small short branches; 

 this is employed in grafting or inoculatmg. 

 This operation is performed by cutting into 

 the bark of another tree, and placing a bud 

 or several buds in the aperture. The sap 

 from the tree soon begins to stimulate it; 

 in time it puts forth leaves and branches, 

 and bears fruit peculiar to the tree from 

 whence it was taken. 



2d. The leaf bud, contains the rudiments 

 of several leaves without flowers ; it is 

 usually longer and more pointed than the 

 flower bud. 



Fig. 35. 



The figure shows a 

 branch of the Daphne 

 mezereum ; at a, is a leai 

 bud, while the lateral 

 buds are flower-bearing 

 ones, 



3d. The mi.red 

 bud, contains both 

 leaves and flowers. 

 We see at Fig. 36, 

 a branch of the 

 lilac, (Syringa iml- 

 garis,) bearing this 

 kind of bud, op- 

 posite and covered 

 with a scaly en- 

 velope. B is the 

 same, cut vertical- 

 ly in order to show 

 the thyrse of flow- 

 ers formed in the 

 buds in autumn.* 



The leaf buds, if taken from the tree and planted in the earth, 

 will grow and put forth roots ; but the flower buds in the same situa- 

 tion \vill perish. You will perceive that a striking analogy exists 

 between buds and seeds, as well as between buds and roots. 



You have now seen the manner in which buds commence their 

 existence ; and how they gradually unfold themselves until they be- 

 come in their turn branches, covered with leaves and flowers. In 



* I have this day. Novemher 24, examined the buds of a vigorous lilac, and find, on 

 cutting one vertically, the thyrse of flowers very apparent to the naked eye, and of 

 nearly the size represented in the cut. 



Flower bud— Leaf bud— Mixed bud— Reflections suggested by a view of the subject 



