Anderson: GROWTH OF CUCURBIT A. 243 



The readings from the psychrometer and other non-record- 

 ing apparatus were taken every hour from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. 

 and every four hours during the remainder of the day. Dur- 

 certain periods however it was found necessary to make such 

 readings once in 15 or 30 minutes. 



At the beginning of the experiments, September 27, four 

 days after pollination, the fruit weighed 138 grams and at the 

 end of the experiment, November 7, 47 days later, 5,216 

 grams. At the end of 30 days the fruit was completely ripened 

 but still continued to show marked changes in weight. 



At the close of the observations an examination of the fruit 

 demonstrated that in size, structure and weight, it had 

 undergone a normal development. It contained 575 seeds 

 which weighed when taken out 95.3 grams. Of 100 of these 

 seeds placed in a Geneva germinator, 96 germinated. The 

 data concerning the growth of the internode were obtained 

 by use of a Baranetzky auxanometer on a terminal in- 

 ternode of a vine 5 m. in length in the plant house. The inter- 

 node was firmly fixed at its base to an iron post and attached 

 to the auxanometer in the usual manner. The entire plant re- 

 ceived the daily course of the sun, and while the actual con- 

 ditions of temperature and moisture were much different from 

 those surrounding the plant bearing the fruit, yet the daily 

 variations of these conditions corresponded quite exactly. 



All of the more important data bearing on the growth of the 

 fruit, changes in weight of the ripened fruit, growth of an in- 

 ternode. transpiration of the leaves and accompanying condi- 

 tions are given in the following tables and graphically repre- 

 sented in Plates XI to XX inclusive. Each table with the ex- 

 ception of the first and last covers a period of 50 hours. The 

 former extends over the entire period of observation, 47 days, 

 and the latter over four days. 



