
          ... has a distinct connection with 
 the woody system of the tree," and is 
 found to "increase in size with the 
 age of the sheath." Yes, the axis of the 
 fascicle is axis or branch, and so 
 what this axis bears, i.e. the needles, 
 must be must leaves. Q.E.D.
 If further and occular proof is 
 wanted, the seedling pines of your 
 nursery will furnish it, the stems 
 of the first year bearing these 
 needles solitary, one to each node, 
 without any scale behind them, 
 in short just like those of a growing 
 shoot of Larch or Deodar.


 I do not think you are [added: at all] warranted 
 in the opinion you expressed that the 
 regarding of the needles of Pine as
 true leaves would be in "serious
 opposition" to your theory "that a
 vigorous axial growth is opposed to the 
 development of free leaves in Coniferae."
 So much the worse for your 
 theory, if it be so. But you will see,
        