
          The reasons you adduce (p. 320) do 
 not bear you out. "Their position 
 in the axils of the true leaves indicates 
 the probability," you say. It 
 conclusively indicates that the fascicle 
 belongs to a branch. If the needle 
 was single and alone your argument
 would be to the point,. But [crossed out: the] what 
 we have in the instance referred to, 
 "as is beautifully shown in Pinus
 Austriaca", is a distinct though short
 woody axis, bearing first some delicate
 scarious sheaths and then a pair of 
 needles. The whole [added: botanists rightly say] is a branch, 
 the thin sheaths are bud-scales,
 and the needles leaves. "Their 
 permanency in proportion to their induracy"
 you mentioned as "another 
 strong poin"t in your favor, remarking 
 that those "of P. [Pinus] Austriaca
 remain green four or five years."
 But [crossed out: those] the undoubted leaves of
 Norway Spruce do so for nearly
 twice that period. "The fascicle 
        