THE INFLORESCENCE. 209 



foliage, while the bud remains quiescent, safely protected under 

 ground until the rainy season returns ; and of annuals, which make 

 their whole growth in a few weeks, and ripen their seeds, in which 

 state the species securely passes the arid season. 



376. These considerations elucidate the process oi forcing plants, 

 and other operations of horticulture, by which we are enabled to 

 obtain in winter the flowers and fruits of summer. The gardener 

 accomplishes these results principally by skilful alterations of the 

 natural period of repose. He gives the plant an artificial period 

 of rest by dryness at the season when he cannot command cold, 

 and then, by the influence of heat, light, and moisture, which he can 

 always command, causes it to grow at a season when it would have 

 been quiescent. Thus he retards or advances, at will, the periods 

 of floflfering and of rest, or in time completely inverts them. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



OF THE INFLOEESCENCB. 



377. Inflorescence is the term used to designate the arrangement 

 of flowers upon the stem or branch. The flower, like the branch, 

 is evolved from a bud. Flower-buds and leaf-buds are often so 

 similar in appearance, that it is difiicult to distinguish one from the 

 other before their expansion. The most conspicuous parts of the 

 flower are so obviously analogous to the leaves of a branch, that 

 they are called in common language the leaves of the flower. Such 

 a flower as the double Camellia appears as if composed of a rosette 

 of white or colored leaves, resembling, except in their color and 

 texture, the clusters of leaves which are crowded on the offsets of 

 such plants as the Houseleek (Fig. 207). We therefore naturally 

 regard a flower-bud as analogous to a leaf-bud ; and a flower, con- 

 sequently, as analogous to a short leafy branch. 



378. This analogy is confii-med by the position which flowers oc- 

 cupy. They appear at the same situations as ordinary buds, and at 

 no other ; that is, they occupy the extremity of the stem or branch, 

 and the axil of the leaves (159, 165). Consequently, the arrange- 



18* 



