118 teansactio:n^s of the illenois 



years, and j-et the growth had continued during tliat time. I found 

 several of the branches of my own apple trees in a similar condition. 

 The change then produced is this, that one or more of these leaves are 

 folded into the form of a vase, and in the center of that is deposited a 

 little cell, and when it has converted it in that way, then it is a fruit 

 bud ; and I don't believe your trees were in the condition you have 

 stated until after the change was made. The perfection of these leaves 

 would cause them to di'op otf, and then it would enlarge them and 

 render the crop more unsafe the coming winter. 



Mr. Wier — If Dr. Hull, next year, will take a tree as soon as the 

 terminal bud is formed, and take out a ring of bark near the surface of 

 the ground, one inch away, he will find every branch will die. Let him 

 take all the leaves off an apple tree, and in that case they will all die. 

 Now, if the leaves do not have to elaborate the sap to go down to the 

 roots, what becomes of it? 



Dr. Hull — I have 400 trees from which the leaves were all stripped 

 by the grasshoppers. When the leaves are lost early in the summer the 

 roots die just as Mr. Wier has stated. But he has carried it too far. 

 The least of these little roots, under certain conditions of nature, can 

 repair themselves. Why is it that a large root can not make a new 

 root? Will Mr. Barry answer that question? 



Mr. Barry — No, sir. I could not say. 



Dr. Hull — Will Mr. Meehan answer the -question ? 



Mr. Meehan was not in the room. 



Mr. Barry — The root breaks through in man^'^ cases, just the same as 

 a branch breaks through and makes a new branch, but it is only in 

 certain cases. 



Dr. Hull — The apple tree, I believe, has m0}'<; power of pushing than 

 many others. It produces both new roots and new branches. 



Mr. Bany — I think I have seen peach trees producing new shoots in 

 that manner when as big as my arm. 



Dr. Hull — I think it is more likely to occur with the branch than 

 with the root ; that is one of the points I was going to make. Sup- 

 pose the juices to be acting on the root, it forms a callus at once. 



