wap. BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JUNE 
the strength of the tree going largely to the fruit, fruiting apple 
trees bore smaller leaves than sterile ones. From a prevalent 
occurrence of shorter needles on the youngest year’s growth, 
and from direct measurements, Kraus advanced the doctrine of 
a further growth in length of the needles of Pinus after the first 
year; which Meissner* and S. Honda,5 from a mass of negative 
results deny. From his numerous measurements Meissner 
recognized the variations from year to year, and seems to 
regard this observation as one of his most important results.° 
But though he mentions in one place (eb/d. 217, 1897) the 
effect of a dry summer in the growth of short needles, he intro- 
duces without explanation the fact that the variations on the 
main stem and on its branches are parallel, and expressly con- 
tradicts Kraus’ statement that there is a relation between the 
length of the stem and that of the needle. As illustrating and 
emphasizing the influence of the conditions of vegetation on the 
development of leaves, the following notes may be of interest, 
although their most conspicuous feature is that already chron- 
icled by Reinke. 
In the spring of 1896 a considerable number of evergreens 
were transplanted to the campus of Indiana University. The 
most of these are still living, and except in the case of Pinus 
Strobus still bear leaves three, four, or more years old. I have 
measured needles from two or more plants of each species and 
in the appended tables present a fair average case of each. In 
every instance the needles formed during 1896 are conspicu- 
ously shorter than those of 1895 or 1897, giving the young trees 
a very odd appearance. The per cent. of shortening varies of 
course in the different plants, according to the injury they sus- 
tained in being moved.?7. The greatest decrease present in the 
tables is 74.6 per cent. on Pinus Austriaca. A still greater effect 
* Bot. Zeit. 52': 55. 1894, and 557: 203. 1897. 
5 Not seen. Ref. Bot. Centralb. 67 : 25. 
* Loe. cit. 217. 1897. “Die Nadeln nehmen von Jahr zu Jahr an Lange zu, dann 
ab, dann wieder zu, etc.” 
7 REINKE, loc. cit. Adies oo transplanted without injury to the roots, 
showed no change in the needles 
