In April Weather 57 
table wool, which, in a mild climate, are unneces- 
sary. 
But we must not infer that every unprotected 
bud found in northern woods is borne on a vege- 
table stray from a milder climate. A few northern 
plants have become so thoroughly case-hardened to 
winter and rough weather that they have dispensed 
with protective bud-wrappings. Like some intrepid 
folk of our acquaintance they get through the cold 
season without an overcoat, or independent of furs 
and flannels. 
The winter buds of the blackberry are protected 
only by a few thin scales, often too short to cover 
the tips of the young leaves within. Four, or at 
most six, soft scales have defended the elder leaves 
and the clustered blossom-buds from last winter’s 
frost. The tender foliage of the ‘‘ wayfaring- 
tree’’ or ‘‘hobble-bush’’ has had no protection 
save a coating of scurf, and with this scant cloth- 
ing it can survive a Maine winter. But as a rule, 
when naked buds occur in our climate they are 
small, and during winter they lie in hiding, sunk 
into the bark or even partly buried in the wood. 
The scales which enclose most native buds are 
imperfect leaves, detailed to do guard duty. 
Through the winter they have been wrapped 
