120 BEGINNERS' BOTANY 



tips, of all the branches {aaaa, h), and in the axil of every leaf, 

 are one season old. It is only the terminal buds that are not 

 axillary. When the bud begins to grow and to put forth leaves, 

 it gives rise to a branch, wliich, in its turn, bears buds. — It will 

 now be interesting to determine why certain buds gave rise to 

 branches and why others remained dormant. The strongest 

 shoot or branch of the year is the terminal one {fh). The 

 next in strength is the uppermost lateral one, and the weakest 

 shoot is at the base of the twig. The dormant buds are on the 

 under side (for the twig grew in a horizontal position) . All this 

 suggests that those buds grew which had the best chance, — the 

 most sunlight and room. There were too many buds for the space, 

 and in the struggle for existence those that had the best oppor- 

 tunities made the largest growths. This struggle for existence 

 began a year ago, however, when the buds on the shoot below/ 

 were forming in the axils of the leaves, for the buds near the tip 

 of the shoot grew larger and stronger than those near its base. 

 The growth of one year, therefore, is very largely determined by 

 the conditions under which the buds were formed the previous 

 year. Other bud characters. 125. It is easy to see the swelling 

 of the buds in a room in winter. Secure branches of trees and 

 shrubs, two to three feet long, and stand them in vases or jars, 

 as you would flowers. Renew the water frequently and cut off 

 the lower ends of the shoots occasionally. In a week or two the 

 buds will begin to swell. Of red maple, peach, apricot, and other 

 very early-flowering things, flowers may be obtained in ten to 

 twenty days. 126. The shape, size, and color of the winter buds 

 are different in every kind of plant. By the buds alone botanists 

 are often able to distinguish the kinds of plants. Even such 

 similar plants as the different kinds of willows have good bud 

 characters. 127. Distinguish and draw fruit-buds of apple, pear, 

 peach, plum, and other trees. If different kinds of maples grow 

 in the vicinity, secure twigs of the red or swamp maple, and the 

 soft or silver maple, and compare the buds with those of the sugar 

 maple and Norway maple : What do you learn? 



Fig. 157. — Buds of the Hickory. 



