STEMS 



65 



of the tree must depend largely on the arrangement of 



leaves along the stem. 



80. Opposite Branching In trees the leaves and buds 



of which are opposite, the tendency will be to form twigs 



in four rows about at right angles 



to each other along the sides of 



the branch, as shown in Fig. 30. 



This arrangement will not usu- 

 ally, be perfectly carried out, since 



some of the buds may never grow, 

 or some may 

 grow much 

 faster than 

 others and so 

 make the plan 

 of branching less 

 evident than it 

 would be if all 

 grew alike. 



81. Alternate 

 Branching. — In 



trees like the beech the twigs will be 

 found to be arranged in a more or less 

 regular spiral line about the branch. 

 This, which is known as the alternate 

 arrangement (Fig. 31), is more com- 

 monly met with in trees and shrubs 

 than the opposite arrangement. It ad- 

 mits of many varieties, since the spiral 



may wind more or less rapidly round the stem. In the 



apple, pear, cherry, poplar, oak, and walnut, one passes 



Fig. 30. — Opposite Branching 



in a Teiy Young Sapling 



of Ash. 



Fia. 31. — Alternate 

 Branching in a very 

 Young Apple Tree. 



