i6 



LATERAL BUDS. 



In general structure the lateral buds closely resemble the 

 terminal ones, but are nauch smaller, and have a somewhat 

 different attachment to the twig. The soft cone of small cells 

 rests upon an abbreviated stem from which the outer scales 

 arise. Where the bud is connected with the twig there is an 

 interlacing ring of fibers and vessels, and within this is a cen- 

 tral pith, which is modified as spoken of w^hile treating of the 

 terminal bud ; that is, the cells are very thick-wallcd, having 

 undergone the process known as lignification, a characteristic 

 of the durable parts of most ligneous plants. As the lateral 

 buds are often close to the twig upon one side there is a con- 

 sequent lack of symmetry. The exposed surface naturally has 

 a greater development of the protective layers, the bud-scales 

 being both thicker and more numerous upon the outside than 

 next to the stem. There is also more of the red coloring 

 matter in the exposed parts. Over all parts there may be a 

 coating of soft down consisting of colorless hairs which grow 

 from the epidermal or outer layer of cells of the bud-scales and 

 the body of the twig. As the twig matures this hairiness is 

 quite easily removed, so that its presence or absence in mid- 

 winter is largely accidental, 



.'-' ^ Floivcr-Biids, — As a general thing, the conditions that sur- 

 round a flower-bud are necessarily much the same as those of 

 the leaf-bud. Both are incipient branches, and while one is 

 destined to elongate into a twig, bearing ordinary foliage, the 

 other remains comparatively short and produces disguised 

 leaves for the purpose of reproduction. It is true, however, 

 that while the leaf-bud soon becomes self-supporting, and in 

 fact finally makes the starch for the next season's use, the fruit- 

 bud is a source of loss to the plant, and therefore needs to be 

 provided with nourishing food-materials. On this account it 

 is natural to expect that the fruit-buds should be specially 

 fav^ored in the location of starch and albuminoids. 



Flower-buds usually are not strictly terminal, that is, at 

 the extremities of main twigs. However, there are excep- 

 tions, and the treatment of flower-buds does not fullv fall 

 under either of the two groups of buds already considered. 



