Growth of Btids and Branches 



41 



The Law of Correlation of Growth. — This law has been 

 observed by plants for ages. What does it mean ? When a 

 part of a plant is destroyed, the plant's first work is to replace 

 that part. We see how beautifully the law is obeyed when 

 flowers are picked; how many more come to replace them. 

 When leaves are destroyed by locusts or caterpillars, dormant 

 buds which might have remained for ever inactive are given 

 light and air ; the food that would have gone to the destroyed 



Fig. 48 — Pine seedling. 



part is turned toward these buds, which grow and unfold new 

 leaves. If shoots are destroyed, new shoots are produced ; 

 while if roots are destroyed, the first thing needed is new roots. 

 It would be useless to unfold leaves if there were no roots to 

 absorb nourishment. When trees are transplanted, some roots 

 are necessarily injured at the tips. The roots are trimmed 

 off, whereupon a vigorous growth of new roots takes their 

 place. 



Fig. 48 shows a young pine seedling which has had its tip 



