the Fruit of Cucurbita. 485 
The figures in Exp. 21 show the much greater effect produced 
by a thorough syringing of the leaves and soil. On August 2, 
when the experiment was made, the shrinking of the fruit had, 
as already noticed, greatly increased. The positive growth 
due to syringing is quite temporary, and when it is over the 
fruit begins to shrink at about the same rate which held good 
before the watering. 
General Conclusions. 
1. Increase in size or in weight is either continuous or is 
interrupted by periods of loss in weight or shrinkage in 
diameter as the case may be. 
2 . A rapidly growing fruit shows an increase in weight of 
01 gram per minute. In diameter of o-oi mm. per minute. 
3. When diminution in weight or size is proceeding rapidly, 
the fruit shows a loss of 0.1 gram per minute : or a shrinkage 
at the rate of o-oi mm. per minute. 
4. Variations in the rate of growth are chiefly dependent 
on the hygrometric condition of the atmosphere. Increased 
relative humidity causes increased growth and vice versa 1 . 
5. No. 4 is true not only in cases where the increase of the 
fruit is continuous, but also for the cases where growth is 
interrupted by periods of diminution in size or weight. Thus 
increase may be converted into decrease when the air becomes 
dry, and this may again give place to increase when the air 
becomes more humid. 
6. The effects noted in No. 4 and No. 5 probably depend 
not on the transpiration of the fruit but of the leaves. This 
view accords with the conclusion (No. 7) that : — 
7. Syringing the leaves and watering the soil cause a rapid 
increase in growth. 
1 This result agrees, generally speaking, with G. Kraus’ classical researches on 
the distribution of water in plants, to which reference has already been made. 
K k 2 
