6 



BULLETIN 4 



for a larger membership. Many papers published the an- 

 nouncement, in whole or in part, and many letters have been 

 received by the Secretary, expressing approval of the Society 

 and its work. 



The field meeting will be held this year in Brunswick, 

 probably Aug. 22-25. 



Character in Winter Buds. 



Prof. K. M. Wiegand. 



[Abstract.] 



Trees and shrubs grow in height from year to year by 

 additions either from the very tip of stem and branches or 

 from axillary shoots very near the end. A portion of this 

 new growth is formed the season before and carefully pro- 

 tected during the winter by bud-scales, hair, etc. These 

 coverings prevent drying out and mechanical injury, but are 

 not important in modifying temperature. 



Woody plants may be identified almost as well in winter 

 as in summer. Character is to be found in the presence or 

 absence of terminal buds; shape and position of the leaf-scars; 

 number and arrangement of the bundle-scars left upon the 

 leaf-scar by the fibro-vascular bundles in the petiole; pres- 

 ence or absence of stipule-scars, etc. The number of the 

 visible bud-scales is important, and whether they are modi- 

 fied blades, petioles, or stipules. The pith is important in 

 some cases, as, for instance, in the walnuts and butternuts, 

 where it is beautifully diaphragmed. Analytical keys have 

 been made, based on these characters, thus enabling one to 

 identify twigs in winter. A study of buds and twigs soon 

 produces an individualization of the winter forest landscape 

 in the mind of the student quite in contrast to the ordinary 

 feeling that there is no character in the woods in winter. 



The paper was illustrated with twigs representing most 

 of our common woody plants. 



