nical trees so common among
narrow-leaved evergreens. 2. The main stem is _deliquescent_ (Fig. 4)
when the trunk divides into many, more or less equal divisions, forming
the broad-topped, spreading trees. This plan is the usual one among
deciduous trees. A few species, however, such as the Sweet Gum and the
Sugar-maple, show the excurrent stem while young, yet even these have a
deliquescent stem later in life. The English Maple and the Apple both
have a deliquescent stem very early.

All the narrow-leaved evergreens, and many of the broad-leaved trees as
well, show what is called _definite_ annual growths; that is, a certain
amount of leaf and stem, packed up in the winter bud, spreads out and
hardens with woody tissue early in the year, and then, no matter how
long the season remains warm, no additional leaves or stem will grow.
The buds for the next year's growth then form and often become quite
large before autumn.

There are many examples among the smaller plants, but rarely one among
the trees, of _indefinite_ annual growth; that is, the plant puts forth
leaves and forms stems throughout the whole growing-season. The common
Locust, the Honey-locust, and the Sumacs are illustrations.

BUDS.--Buds are either undeveloped branches or undeveloped flowers. They
contain within the scales, which usually cover them, closely packed
leaves; these leaves are folded and wrinkled in a number of different
ways that will be defined at the end of this chapter.

[Illustration: Fig. 14.]

POSITION AND NUMBER.--While the axils of the leaves and the ends of the
stems are the ordinary places for the buds, there are many peculiarities
in regard to their exact position, number, etc., that render them very
interesting for winter study. Sometimes there are several to the single
leaf. In the Silver Maple there are buds on each side of the true
axillary one; these are flower-buds, and during the winter they are
larger than the one which produces the branch. The Butternut (Fig. 14)
and the Walnut have several above each other, the upper one being the
largest and at quite a distance from the true axil. In these cases the
uppermost is apt to grow, and then the branch is said to be
_extra-axillary_. In the Sycamore the bud does not show while the leaf
remains on the tree, as it is in the hollow of the leafstalk. In the
winter the bud has a ring-like scar entirely around it, instead of the
moon-shaped scar below as in most trees. The Comm