10 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



of events, we will proceed to consider the development 

 step by step. 



With the vegetative buds we are not concerned, and 

 the microsporangiate buds may be disposed of in a brief 

 sentence. They are recognisable as buds about the end 

 of May ; as a rnle they are borne upon branches differing 

 somewhat from those bearing the megasporangia ; the 

 intemodes are shorter and slighter, the branchings are 

 more numerous and clustered, they have thus a bushy 

 character, producing conditions well adapted to the dis- 

 persal of the ripe pollen. These specialised branches are 

 usually in groups, and usually at the lower part of the 

 tree. The buds continue growth until the end of October, 

 at which time the sporangia are found to be closely 

 packed with pollen-mother-cells. Thus, well wrapped in 

 the resinated bud-scales they remain at rest until the 

 following spring. 



The nieg-asporangiate buds commence their develop- 

 ment in May, but are not recognisable as such until the 

 end of July, at which time their upper portion is seen to 

 be distinctly swollen, indicating the presence of one or 

 more young cones. 



I think that sufficient evidence has been found to 

 warrant the suggestion that the normal number of cones 

 within a bud is probably four, for in numerous young 

 buds examined there are certain definite areas of tissue 

 in the act of breaking down, these areas occurring in 

 positions where young cones might be reasonably looked 

 for. They may, however, be initial leaves only — it is 

 difficult to determine. 



By the end of August the young cones are about 

 *5 mm. in diameter, and the same in length, their shape 

 already suggests that which they will ultimately assume ; 

 around the base there are a few protuberances. 



