SECT. IV. DECOMPOSITE ORGANS. 25 



SUBSECTION III. 



The Branches. The Branches, in their mode of Their 

 growth and developement, exhibit nearly the same 

 appearances as the trunk from which they issue. 

 They originate in a bud, and form also a cone that 

 consists of pith, wood, and bark; or rather they 

 form a double cone. For the insertion of the 

 branch into the trunk resembles also a cone whose 

 base is at the circumference, and whose apex is at 

 the centre, at least if it is formed in the first year of 

 the plant's growth, or on the shoot of the present 

 year ; but falling short of the centre in proportion 

 to the lateness of its formation, and number of in- 

 tervening layers. 



Like the trunk and root it increases also in width They in 

 by the accession of new layers, and in length by 

 the addition of new shoots, at least in as much as 

 regards its external portion; exhibiting however 

 some slight peculiarities in as far as regards its in- 

 sertion, the apex being never carried nearer to the 

 centre than at the period of its first formation, and 

 the inserted portion elongating only in consequence 

 of the accumulation of the new layers by which the 

 diameter of the trunk is increased. In its width, 

 however, it increases like the external portion by 

 the addition of new layers pervading the alburnum 

 of the trunk, to which it is intimately united by the 

 interplexus of their respective fibres, forming a firm 



