BY J. .1. FLETCHER AKD C. T. MUSSOX. 211 



bud, and between the latter and the attachment of the peticle 

 of the leaf, the supposed weak spot in the axils, which makes 

 inoculation possible, may arise in connection with the dijBferentia- 

 tion of the bud; or that there may be a weak spot about the 

 attachment of the petiole, which is exposed when the leaf ex- 

 pands; or, perhaps, both are concerned, ►^erial, transverse, and 

 longitudinal sections are required to settle the matter. 



In general, the conditions which favour or retard the develop- 

 ment of ordinary branches in leaf-axils, favour or retard the 

 development of nodule shoots; and, particularly, sufficient room 

 to allow of free exposure of the plants to light: and damage to 

 the growing-point, or removal of the greater part of the stem. 

 Defoliation, under some conditions, may also stimulate the pro- 

 duction of nodule-shoots. 



Two very young seedlings of E. hemiphloia, with only the first 

 pair of stem-nodules present, are shown in figs. CI and C.2 of 

 Plate iv. One shoot promptly developed on each nodule after 

 the growing-points suffered injury, in each case. Sometimes two, 

 or even three, shoots will develop on at least one nodule of seed- 

 lings like these. 



PI. xxv., fig.l, shows a flourishing pot-plant of E. tereticornis, 

 growing under very favourable conditions, which exhibits pro- 

 fuse branching, as well as nodule-shoots. 



An advanced pot-seedling of E. hemiphloia^ with a well-devel- 

 oped, complete encircling tumour, without any shoots, was unin- 

 tentionally neglected, and the pot allowed to become so dry, that 

 the leaves wilted, and were cast off. On receiving attention, the 

 plant revived; but, before the new leaves appeared, five young- 

 shoots promptly developed on the tumour. 



Though the buds usually remain dormant on the nodules of 

 refractory seedlings like those shown in Plates ix. and x., injury 

 to the growing-point, or removal of the greater port of the stem 

 will cause shoots to develop. 



The presence of shoots is of great importance both to the 

 stem-nodules, and to the resulting, composite tumours, for 

 they are not then entirely dependent on the seedling-stem for 

 nutriment. A large, revived, belated nodule (A2), whose fellow 



