- 2 4 - 



the pad of callus on the upper edge of the wound, was, curiously 

 enough, completely free from starch. Of reducing sugar, I found 

 no greater quantity here than elsewhere in the bark. Below the 

 upper cut, however, down to the base of the tree, starch was 

 completely absent in all the tissues of the stem. Reducing 

 sugar also was almost completely absent. 



The second plant was cut down eight days later. Its 

 condition with regard to the distribution of starch, corresponded 

 completely with that of the first specimen, though 2,5 below the 

 girdle, two young branches, with four leaves each had developed. 



The third plant was left till the middle of March. Its 

 examination gave similar results. 



It is evident from this experiment, that in consequence of 

 girdling, the circulation of sap in the stem had been completely 

 or almost completely checked, and that after a short time only, 

 the reservoirs in the stem were completely emptied. Outwardly 

 no damage to the trees was visible. Probably they would for quite 

 a long time have kept up in growth with the other trees, because 

 a long period must elapse before the want of food in the root- 

 system, and the retardation in its growth, show themselves in the 

 condition of the crown. Had, however, the latex been extracted 

 from the basal parts of the stem, I feel convinced, that it would 

 not have been renewed in its original quality and quantity, if 

 the tree had been left growing. 



A plant, kept for comparison, which had not been girdled, 

 but was under observation, contained an abundant quantity of 

 starch in all parts of the stem down to its base. 



The experiment was repeated in the following manner on 

 three bigger and thicker plants, two or three years old, their 

 height being about 2 to 3 m. I had one of these doubly girdled, 

 the rings were cut in the middle of the stem, at a distance of 

 about 50 to 75 cm. from each other. In the case of the other two 

 trees, I did not have circular incisions made on the upper wound, 

 but incisions extending only over half the circumference of the 

 tree. A square of bark from half to two-thirds of the circum- 

 ference iof the plant was then removed, so that on the upper wound, 

 a bridge of bark was preserved. The lower girdling was complete. 

 On all three plants I had the wound embedded in soil and 

 coconut fibre, by which the wood was fairly well protected 

 against desiccation. The plants were girdled on December 3Oth, 



