104 



LEAF-ARRANGEMENT. 



and with internodes of very nearly the same 

 length as the Beech. That is true ; but, on the 

 other hand, the terminal branches of the Spanish 

 Chestnut are stouter in proportion. Thus, imme- 

 diately below the sixth leaf, the Chestnut stalk 

 may be .15 of an inch in thickness, that of the 



FIG. 23. CASTANEA. 



FIG. 24. CASTANEA AND BEECH. 



Beech not much more than half as much. Con- 

 sequently the Chestnut could, of course supposing 

 the strength of the wood to be equal, bear a 

 greater weight of leaf ; but, the width of the leaf 

 being determined by the distance between the in- 

 ternodes, the leaf is, so to say, compelled to draw 

 itself out. In Fig. 24 I have endeavored to illus- 

 trate this by placing a spray of Beech over one of 



