OF BUDS. 
45 
the. formation of bnds. Those little embryo plants, so nicely wrapp«ea 
up in downy scales as to be able to bear the coldness of winter, in the 
ensuing spring will come forth from their snug retreats, and taking 
the places of the leaves which had withered in autumn, deUght us 
with new verdure and beauty. 
The poet Cowper, in the following lines on the formation of buds, 
shows us the improvement which the pious make, in observing th« 
phenomena of nature. 
" When all this uniform uncoloured scene, 
Shall be dismantled of its fleecy load, 
And flush into variety again, 
From dearth to plenty, and f'om death to life. 
Is Nature's progress, when she lectures rnan 
In heavenly truth ; evincing, as she makes 
The grand transition, that there lives and works 
A soul in all things, and that soul is God. 
He sets the bright procession on its way, 
And marshals all the order of the year; 
He marks the bounds which winter may not pass, 
And blunts his pointed fury ; in its case, 
Russet and rude, folds up the tender germ, 
Uninjured, with inimitable art ; 
And ere one flowery season fades and dies. 
Designs the blooming wonders of the next." 
Some French botanists,* have explained the formation of the scaly 
covering of buds in a manner somewhat different from the generally 
received opinion. They suppose, that in the latter part of summer, 
the eye is formed, and that the young shoot forces its way through 
the bark, but the young leaves which would put forth, becoming 
chilled by the ungenial atmosphere of the coming winter, contract 
and harden, and at length form scales ; and that these scales after- 
ward protect the new leaves, which, urged by the same vegetable 
mstinct, are, in their turn, seeking to emerge into hght and air. If 
we admit this explanation with respect to the formation of scales, it 
seems not difficult to account for the covering of varnish, which de- 
fends the embryo leaves and flowers from moisture. When the leaf 
becomes a scale, it then absorbs from the sap but a portion of what 
w^as destined for its use, and the remaining sap may be converted 
into the resinous substance, or varnish. With respect to the downy 
coat upon the inside of the scales, this may be seen in the rudiments 
of the leaves, if examined before the bud is developed. These hy- 
potheses do not, in any degree, derogate from the wisdom of Him, 
who, " with art inimitable, folds up the tender germ for whether 
He acts by secondary causes, or " speaks, and it is done," design 
IS alike apparent in all his works. 
The term bud, in common language, extends to the rudiments of 
all plants, whether with scales or without, which originate upon other 
living plants. Buds with scales are chiefly confined to the trees of 
cold countries. In the northern part of the United States, there are 
few trees which can endure the cold weather, without this security. 
In Sweden, it is said, there is but one shrubj destitute of buds, and 
this, from the peculiarity of its situation, is always protected from 
the inclemencies of weather. 
* De Candolle, and others. 
t A species of Rkamnus, which grows under trees, in marshy forests. 
Period in which the formation of buds commences— Opinion of some botanists with 
respect to the scaly covering of buds— The term bud, how extensive in its api>licatioa 
-Scaly buds chiefly confined to cold countriei?. 
