GROWTH OF PLANTS. 353 



the first ; for we never find a new branch shoot ont from the sides of 

 the first growth, upon the renewal taking place. 



Some plants grow equally at all times in the 24 hours ; e. g. Asparagus, 

 Fir, Duke of Argyle's Tea. Some plants do not grow equally at all 

 times in the 24 hours ; some growing only when it is dark ; e. g. Beans, 

 Peas, Lupins. 



The circumstance of many vegetables shooting out branches when the 

 trunk is cut off, would appear to arise from a certain quantity of action 

 necessarily taking place in the plant; so that if it be destroyed, or 

 obstructed in one part, it takes place in another. This is somewhat 

 like St. Vitus's dance in the human subject 1 . 



When trees shoot out many suckers, or many and strong lateral 

 branches from the stem, we may be sure there is a deficiency in the 

 growth of the top, the growth of the top not being in proportion to the 

 growing power of the tree. 



When a tree sends forth its new shoots, and the leading one is 

 allowed to grow, then the harmony of growth is preserved ; but if the 

 leading shoot is broke off, then there is an endeavour in all the lateral 

 shoots to become leading shoots ; but some one gets the start, and then 

 the whole affair becomes settled. 



Many vegetables form their flower on their extreme shoot: such 

 can never have a leading shoot, but must be obliged to grow from a 

 lateral shoot or branch : such can never grow tall and straight, but 

 must grow bushy ; they may grow more or less into large bushes. I 

 believe all the annuals, without exception, form their flower on their 

 extreme shoot. In them, the flower forming on every shoot cannot 

 hinder a repetition of the growth, as the whole dies away in the same 

 year. 



The same observations are applicable to those whose stalk dies away 

 every year, but which form a new stalk from the root ; such therefore 

 may be said to live by suckers ; and there should be a term expressive 

 of this, as it is their great characteristic. 



Then there are those which may be said to have no fixed termination 

 of existence, but live for years, which may include shrubs and trees. 

 These [perennials] appear to me to be of two kinds ; with an inter- 

 mediate one like the former, having its flower on its extreme branch, 

 so that it never can grow to any great height, but must become thick 

 and bushy ; the large Sumach is of this kind ; eveiy branch terminates 



1 [This is eminently characteristic of Hunter's faculty of discerning, like the Poet, 

 similitude in tilings to common view most unlike. It also illustrates the never 

 deviating aim of his unintermitting investigations of living phenomena, to gain mate- 

 rials for the foundation of a scientific knowledge and treatment of disease and injury.] 



2 a 



