272 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



Comment on the precediug tables. Table I. The total 

 weight of the fruit at the time of the grand maximum, Sep- 

 tember 27-28, was approximately equal to one-half of its final 

 weight, October 30, when increase had ceased. 



The development of the fruit can be divided into three 

 periods : 



1. Period of active and continuous increase ; from the time 

 of pollination, September 18, to the grand maximum, Septem- 

 ber 27-28. 



2. Period of decline in the daily increase and rise in the 

 daily decrease ; from the grand maximum, September 27-28, 

 to the beginning of ripening, October 10-12 



3. Ripening period, October 10-12 to October 22-24. 



The grand maximum decrease occurred about the middle of 

 the ripening period. The daily decrease was greatest at the 

 time of ripening. The daily increase and decrease continued 

 until October 31, when increase ceased, followed by a continu- 

 ous loss in weight. 



Tables II and III. On the morning of September 25, the influ- 

 ence of light and moisture on the young fruit was demonstrated. 

 From 2-3 p. m., when the leaves and fruit were in bright sun- 

 light, the increase was at the rate of one gram per hour, while 

 from 1-2 p. M., when the sun was clouded, the increase was 

 ten grams per hour. 



September 26, from 11 A. M. to 1 p. M., an increase of one 

 gram per hour occurred. At 1:10 p. M. the vines were sprinkled 

 and the root watered. Two minutes later, at 1:12 p. m., the 

 increase was at the rate of thirty grams per hour, while the 

 fruit was still in the sunshine. These results agree with those 

 of F. Darwin 9. "Syringing the leaves and watering the soil 

 causes a rapid increase in growth." 



Tables IV. and V. The grand maximum increase had been 

 reached and the first decrease occurred when the leaves, fruit 

 and plant were in direct sunlight, temperature high and rela- 

 tive humidity low. 



The grand maximum increase occurred between 1-2 A. m. 

 and 8-10 P. m. , September 28. The rate of increase at night 

 at the time of the grand maximum was quite uniform and con- 

 stant, the daily maximum occurring between 8 p. M. and 6 a. m. 



Tables VI. and VII. The lessened daily maximum increase 

 following the grand maximum is demonstrated. 



9. Anu. Bot. 7:485. 1893. 



