there are scars marking the growths of 

 the stems in successive years. From time 

 to time portions of the old rootstock dies. 

 The potato is an example of another 

 kind of stem, the tuber. An old potato, 

 one that has been stored in a dark cellar, 

 will be covered with sprouts which are 

 growing from the "eyes" of the potato. 

 These "eyes" are really buds which ap- 

 pear in the axils of the scales, which cor- 

 respond to leaves. If you cannot see the 

 scale you will see the scar left by it. The 

 potato, then, is certainly a stem, bearing- 

 leaves or rather scales, and buds. In the 

 potato is the store of nourishment which 

 feeds the growing buds. The old potato 



with long sprouts is shrunken and soft 

 after having given up its supply to the 

 young branches. 



The Indian turnip and the crocus 

 spring from corms. Corms are very 

 short rootstocks, something like tubers 

 in that the buds grow on the sides. 



Bulbs have thickened scales in which 

 food is stored. If you examine the bulb 

 of a white lily you will see that the short 

 stem with its arrangement of leaves is 

 very like the bud of the horse- 

 chestnut. Indeed, a bulb is a bud, with 

 a very short stem and leaves so close to- 

 gether that they seem almost to spring 

 from the same point. 



PART V, BUDS 



Plants and birds and humble creatures 



Well accept her rule austere ; 

 Titan-born, to hardy natures 



Cold is genial and dear. 



— Emerson, "May-Day." 



The charm of early Spring is partly position on the stem and the effect upon 

 one of contrast; after the silence comes the development of the tree or shrub; 

 the twittering and stir ; the bleakness the way the young leaves are packed in- 

 gives place to soft verdure ; the world of to the bud, in a way economical of space 

 nature so long asleep, awakes. Yet this and at the same time affording the leaves 

 contrast, the abrupt passing from one* when unfolding sufficient light without 

 season to another, is not so marked to too great an exposure to the scorching 

 those who are wide awake the year heat of the sun ; also, the various means 

 around. When the snow is the deepest of protection from the weather and from 

 they listen for sounds that some of us visits of insects which might prove in- 

 only hear in the springtime, and their jurious. 



sharp glances see the things in winter Notice the position of the buds on the 



that others think belong only to the branch ; they are borne on the sides, 



warmer seasons. They know the birds either alternately or opposite to each 



that linger with us in winter ; the little other — lateral buds, or on the end of 



animals that track the snow in the course the branch — terminal buds. The termi- 



of their daily pursuits ; and watch the nal buds are larger and stronger than 



progress of the trees and shrubs that live the lateral buds, usually, and so have the 



above ground, and that of the hardy per- advantage in growth. When the termi- 



ennials that cherish their stores of nour- nal buds have the lead, we have one or 



ishment beneath the frozen earth. more distinct main branches with lateral 



The very fact that there are fewer branches growing from them. The pine 



signs of life in winter than at other sea- is a good example of this kind of growth, 



sons makes each new thino- discovered where the terminal bud has predominated 



the more precious and wonderful and 

 gives then to our walks a charm and pi- 

 quancy that we can feel at no other time. 

 Winter-buds are a noticeable sign of life 

 of trees in winter time. They are to be 

 seen throughout the season but are best 

 examined toward spring when they have 



and there is the straight shaft with lateral 

 branches. However, the terminal bud is 

 often a flower bud, and the lateral buds 

 have the advantage and the main branch- 

 es are lost in the lateral one. This is the 

 case with the horse-chestnut and the elm ; 

 indeed most of the shade trees are more 



begun to swell. Much that is interesting or less deliquescent, which is the name 

 is to be observed about the buds ; their applied to trees without the distinct cen- 



115 



