BUDS AND METHODS OF BRANCHING. 



It will assist materially in studying buds and methods of branch- 

 ing to bear in mind the following suggestive topics : 



The annual growth, is it definite or indefinite? See Gray's 

 " Lessons," p. 31. 



When the amount of annual growth is definite note the fluc- 

 tuation in amount of annual growth from year to year. Is this 

 variation due to increase in length of internodes or to increase in 

 number of internodes. 



Arrangement of leaf scars — Phyllotaxy. 



Variation in length of internodes in a single year's growth. 

 Is this variation constant for the several years represented in the 

 branch ? 



Relative size of terminal and axillary buds. 



Number of scales in a bud determined, first by the scales 

 themselves — or second by the scars of the scales of buds of pre- 

 vious winters. Is the number of bud scales constant during suc- 

 cessive years ? Are there as many scales upon axillary as upon 

 terminal buds? 



The nature of the bud scales ; stipular or laminar. 



The protection of buds by varnish, by hair. 



The number of lenticels upon a stem to each square inch of 

 surface. 



From which of the nodes of a single year's growth are branches 

 usually produced? (Compare a branch of oak, ash, and magnolia 

 for differences in general character brought about by this ten- 

 dency). 



I. BRANCH OF HORSECHESTNUT TREE (Aesculus 

 hippocastanum L). 



" The cotyledons and plumule of the embryo are, morphologi- 

 cally, the first bud, on the summit of the initial stem, the caulicle 

 (hypocotyl). " Gray " Structural Botany. " 



The Terminal Bud of the Horsechestnut is large and scaly. 

 The scales and leaves follow the same law of arrangement, i. e., 



