=716. The cone type.=—This is well exampled in the larches, spruces, the gingko tree, some of the pines, cedars, and other gymnosperms. In the cone type, the main axis extends through the system of branches like a tall shaft, i.e., the trunk is _excurrent_. The lower branches are wide-spreading, and the branches become successively shorter, usually uniformly, as one ascends the stem. The branching is of two types: (1) the branches are in false whorls; (2) the branches are distributed along the stem. To the first type belong the pines, Norway spruce, Douglas spruce, etc. _The white pine_ is an exquisite example, and in young and middle-aged trees shows the style of branching to very good advantage. The branches are nearly horizontal, with a slight sigmoid graceful curve, while towards the top the branches are ascending. This direction of the branches is due to the light relation. The few whorls at the top are ascending because of the strong light from above. They soon become extended in a horizontal direction as the main source of light is shifting to the side by the shading of the top. The ascending direction first taken by the upper branches and their subsequent turning downward, while the ends often still have a slight ascending direction gives to the older branches their sigmoid curve. The young vernal shoots of the pines show some very interesting growth movements. There are two growth periods: (1) the elongation of the shoot, and (2) the elongation of the leaves. The elongation of the shoot takes place first and is completed in about six weeks or two months’ time. The direction of the shoot in the first period seems to be entirely influenced by geotropism. It grows directly upward and stands up as a very conspicuous object in strong contrast with the dark green foliage of the more or less horizontal shoots. When the second period of growth takes place, and the leaves elongate, the shoot bends downward and outward in a lateral direction. The rate of growth of the pines can be very easily observed since each whorl of branches (between the whorls of long shoots there are short shoots bearing the needle leaves), whether on the main axis or on the lateral branches, marks a year, the new branches arising each year at the end of the shoot of the previous year. The rate of growth is sometimes as high as twelve to twenty-four inches or more per year. The _spruces_ form a more perfect cone than the pines. The long branches are mostly in whorls, but often there are intermediate ones, though the rate of growth per year can usually be easily determined. In the _hemlock-spruce_, the branching is distributed. The _larch_ has a similar mode of branching, but it is deciduous, shedding its leaves in the autumn, and it has a tall, conical form.