OF BUDS. 
63 
pith of the vegetable ; as this was found necessary to their 
formation and growth ; they appear at the axils of leaves, or at 
the extremities of branches and stems. The bud is a protuber- 
ance formed by a new shoot ; and as, for this formation, an ad- 
ditional quantity of sap is needed, the reason for its appearing 
at the intersection of the leaf, or leaf stalk with the stem, is ap- 
parent ; the sap in ascending from the root meets with some 
obstacles at those points, and thus accumulating, forms buds. 
If you plant a slip of Geranium, you will observe that it ei- 
ther 'sprouts from the axil of a leaf, or from knots in the stem 
which answer the same purpose as the leaf, by slightly inter- 
rupting the circulation of the juices, and thus affording an accu- 
mulation of sap necessary for the production of a new shoot. 
The part of a plant which sends out new shoots, is called the 
eye ; and sometimes the germ from its peculiar importance. 
Some botanists distinguish the bud as follows : that point in the 
plant which gives rise to the bud is called the eye ; when this 
begins to swell and become apparent, the button ; and when it 
begins to unfold, the bud. 
Herbs and shrubs have buds, but these usually grow and un- 
fold themselves in the same season, and are destitute of scales ; 
while the buds of trees are not perfected in less than two sea- 
sons, and in some cases they require years for their full devel- 
opement. You have, no doubt, observed in the spring, the rap- 
id growth of the leaves and branches of trees ; and perhaps, 
have also noticed, that as summer advances, the progress of veg- 
etation seems almost to cease, and that new leaves and branches 
do not come forth as before; but you may not have known, that in- 
stead of resting in her operations, nature is now busy in provi- 
ding for the next year ; that she is turning the vital energies of 
the plants to the formation of buds. Those little embryo plants 
so nicely wrapped 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, delight us with new verdure and 
beauty. 
The poet Cowper has the following lines on the formation of 
buds ; they evince that character of piety which distinguishes 
this excellent man, in all his writings : 
“ When all this uniform uncoloured scene, 
Shall be dismantled of its fleecy load, 
And flush into variety again, 
From dearth to plenty, and from death to life, 
Supposed to originate from the pith — Sap needed for its formation — The 
eye, button and bud — Herbs and shrubs destitute of scaly buds — Period in 
which the formation of buds commences. 
