32 ANNUAL GROWTHS RECORDED 



This branch was cut in the latter part of March, 1858 ; 

 and as there are six sets of bud-rings on its main axis, it is 

 evident that it is six years old, and that its growth from 

 the bud must have commenced in the spring of 1852. It 

 is also plain that the first side-shoot commenced growing 

 in the spring of 1853, and is, therefore, five years old. 

 Hence, only five sets of bud-rings are visible on this shoot. 

 The same law is apparent through the entire series of ra- 

 mifications ; each shoot is one year younger, and will be 

 found to have one set of bud-rings less than its parent 

 axis. By comparing the engraving with the numerical 

 calculations in the Table, it will be seen that the growth 

 made by the primary axis between 1852 and 1853, was 

 four inches, and that five leaves were put forth, only one 

 of which produced a vitally active bud, which ultimately 

 became a shoot. The buds produced by the other four 

 leaves were rudimentary, and, as is evident from the en- 

 graving, never came to anything. 



Again, by reference to the figures in the Plate and the 

 calculations in the Table, the condition of the branch in 

 the spring of 1854 will be seen at a glance. The primary 

 axis had grown from the set of bud- rings marked 53 to the 

 set marked 54, a distance of eight inches and five lines: it 

 had developed five leaves, and as there are three branches 

 connected with this portion of the main axis, it is evident 

 that three out of the five leaves produced vitally active 

 buds. So, also, the first side-shoot or secondary axis grew 

 two lines and put forth four leaves. It grew, in fact, about 

 the length of a bud-trace, or took a minimum of develop- 

 ment. The distance between the two broken lines at the 

 bottom of the engraving, figured 53 and 54, shows the ex- 

 tent of growth of the first side-shoot between 1853 and 

 1854. This, then, was the exact condition of our beech 

 branch in the spring of 1854. There were terminal buds 

 at all the points of the main axis marked 54 ; and conse- 

 quently, with the exception of the slight side-growth made 

 by the first secondary axis at the bottom, the primary axis 

 itself still remained unbranched. 



