ON THE YOUNG BARK. 33 



In precisely the same manner, the extent to which this 

 branch had grown in the Spring of 1855 may be ascer- 

 tained. It is only necessary to bear in mind, that at all the 

 points on the main axis and its branches marked 55, there 

 were buds or terminal growths, and that at these points the 

 growing shoot was in a state of rest, in order to see that the 

 three buds formed the previous year, or on that portion of 

 the main axis contained between 53 and 54, had grown into 

 three considerable branches, of the respective lengths of 

 two inches and ten lines, six inches and nine lines, and seven 

 inches and ten lines. There were, therefore, four well- 

 marked secondary axes connected with the primary axis 

 below the bud trace marked 54 on the primary axis, whilst 

 the four branches situated above it, and included between 

 54 and 55, were still in the bud condition. 



Between the years 1855 and 1856, the growth of the 

 primary axis appears to have been very greatly retarded. 

 It grew only four lines, put forth three leaves, and there 

 was no side production. The same check to vegetation is 

 also beautifully apparent on the branches during the same 

 season. This is well represented in the engraving, and the 

 figures in the Table show a similar growth of four lines, three 

 leaves, and no side production, of all the branches with the 

 exception of the first and fourth, which grew eight lines and 

 produced four leaves. This shows the intimate physiological 

 connection subsisting amongst a system of branches, and 

 that if the growth of the primary axis is retarded, the 

 growth of the secondary axes experience a similar vegeta- 

 tive check. 



In like manner, the reader can easily ascertain the con- 

 dition of growth of the branch during the years 1856 and 

 1857, and thus accurately trace the several mutations of 

 form through which it passed anterior to assuming its present 

 one, in the Spring of 1858, as represented in our engraving. 



The following curious and highly-interesting facts may 

 also be deduced from the calculations of the above table. 



The figures 28, at the bottom of the first column 

 marked L, show the number of leaves put forth by 

 5 



