YEARS GROWTH 1ST 2nd 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH of MAIN BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH AXIS ----------------------------------------------------- in. '82 6-7/8 --- --- --- --- --- --- '83 6-1/2 4-3/4 4-1/4 --- --- --- --- '84 4-3/4 1/4 1-3/4 3-1/2 --- --- --- '85 4-1/2 3/4 1 2-3/4 2-3/4 --- --- '86 6-1/4 2-1/4 4-3/4 6-3/4 2-3/4 5-3/4 --- '87 6-3/4 1-1/8 3-1/4 4 2-1/4 3 5-1/2 NO. 6. YEARS MAIN 1ST 2ND 2ND 2ND 3RD 4TH AXIS BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH ----------------------------------------------------- in. 1st 2nd side side '80 6-1/4 --- --- shoot. shoot. --- --- '81 8-3/4 6-3/4 --- --- --- --- --- '82 8-1/2 6-1/4 6-7/8 --- --- --- . '83 4-3/4 1-1/2 2-3/8 --- --- 4 . '84 3-1/2 3-1/8 5-1/8 --- --- 1-3/4 7/8 '85 4-1/2 3/8 4-3/4 2-1/4 --- 6 1 '86 6+ 6-3/4 12-1/8 5-1/2 10-1/2 8-7/8 5-1/8 '87 bough 2-1/2 8-3/4 4-1/4 4-1/4 4-6/8 3-3/4 broken. One question brought up by these measurements is whether there is any correspondence in growth between the main axis and its branches. It appears in these tables that there is a general correspondence, in this tree at least. In the recitation of the class, whose tables are given above (Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4), we took all the measurements of these four branches for the year 1885 and added them. We did the same for 1886, and compared the results. The total growth for 1885 was 31-15/16 inches; for 1886, leaving out the measurement of the twig whose entire growth was in that year, 109-3/4 inches or nearly 3-1/2 times as much. The proportion held in a general way throughout, there being only a single case of a branch where the growth was greater in the first year.[1] But there is a point that must not be overlooked in this connection. The branches of the Beech seem to grow about equally well in the first, second, third, or any succeeding year. In some trees, as the Ash, the axillary buds make a large growth, and the succeeding terminal buds carry on the branch much more slowly; in other trees, as the Cherry, a branch grows very slowly in the first few years and then suddenly takes a start. These facts would appear in tables of growth, made from branches of these trees, but the addition of results for any particular year would have no significance. [Footnote 1: The spring of 1880 was a remarkably early one. Thus I find in my diary of that year the following entries:--