Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-07
Phenomena of Vegetation.
A RECENT number of the CalaveraS
(Cal.) Chronicle says:

A RECENT number of the CalaveraS
(Cal.) Chronicle says:
An instance of the effect of neat upon fruit
trees, exemplifed by the recent great fire here,
has been brought to our notice. The orchard OF
Judge Leavitt, situated in the suburbs of Moke-
lumne Hill, was subjected to considerable de
gree of heat during the progress of the conhagra-
ton. Some of the trees were killed, while others
were scorched just enough 10 partly wfther the
leaves. Shortly after the fire the trees but slight
ly burned put on the EN- raid livery of spring
blossomed, and are now bearing as thrifty o
growth of young apples ever saw.
For this and similar phenomena of
trees blossoming and fruiting out of their
season the botanist has a very simple ex-
PLANTATION. Most perennial plants finish
their annual growth early in the summer,
and then direct their forces TO the pro-
duction of buds for the growth of the
ensuing season. These buds contain all
the leaves and blossoms and lengths of
stem which are to form the new shoots
of the next year; while the branches
upon which they rest are filled with
nourishment for their supply during their
rapid expansion. Through the winter
these buds remain dormant; but when
life they have nothing to do but unfold
and expand their leaves and blossoms
and extend their joints of stem-feed-
ing meanwhile upon the ample store of
nutriment lying at their base. Thus it
happens that with magical quickness the
naked boughs of shrubs and trees are
covered with foliage and flowers in the
first warm days of spring Like thrifty
housewife, Nature has everything pre-
pared before hand and she has only TO
kindle her fires and warm the sap in the
veins of vegetation to set it circulating,
and the machinery of growth into active
operation.
But all these buds, these embryo
branches, do not start into life. AS, in
the animal world, there is provision
made by every species for more off
spring than can find means of subsistence,
SO there are more buds created every
season than the plants bearing them
could possibly sustain. Many of them,
therefore, remain dormant, and often
survive in a latent state for years. On
the principle of the survival of the fit
test" the strongest buds push ahead and
get their growth the first season. The
weaker ones may enter into struggle
for active existence and get worsted in
the strife-perish for lack of the light
and nourishment monopolized by their
more sturdy fellows. But the greater
portion do not even make a start, but
continue for an indefinite time in q la
tent condition.
Now if, by any calamity, such as a
frost or fire, the shoots that obtained
the advantage in the spring, and Sc
cured their growth, are cut off, these
latent buds quicken into life. and swiftly
supply with leaves and stems the place
of the branches that were killed. They
have been ready, no one knows how
long, to come forth at the requisite mo-
ment; and this occurs when, by any &C
cident, the parent plant has, in the grow
ing season. been despoiled of its foliage,
and needs renewal of the crop In order
to carry ON it's operations. This oxpla-
nation accounts for the appearance of a
second growth of leaves and flowers on
plant in single season. We often
read of fruit trees putting forth blossoms
in late autumn, after their old leaves
have been dropped. 1t is no marvel.
The unusual heat of the season has slim
ulated the tree to renewed action, and
some of the buds which were provided
for the growth of the ensuing spring
have prematurely expanded Chicago
Tribune