[131]

Feb 1st Nut Corylus

Saw small crack in sand & by removing earth found plumule arched, like U inverted, with summit of arc just beneath level of ground; fixed glass filament to near base of basal half

[sketch] filament or bristle —nut

& traced on horizontal glass, the seedling illuminated from vertically above by looking glass— Plumule kept damp by being surrounded by small vessel with glass cover.

First dot 8° 34'. last dot 10° 36' P.m same day. The upper part of plumule began at once to rise & by next morning at 8°-30' was alm 45° above horizon. at right angles to lower part. What is important is that basal half straightened itself & even bent a little backwards from the upper part, so that the line traced was in most parts straight, but in other parts was decidedly zig-zag showing that some nutation in during this movement.

Feb. 2d. took at a another spec. of which the upper half of plumule on stem stood at about 45° above horizon, & the uppermost part or apex projected .4 of inch above ground, & fixed horizontally glass filament on uppermost straight part of lower half of plumule beneath lowest scale-like leaves & traced on horizonal glass, with light from above, & only occasionally. First dot 8°. 55' (over)

[131v]

(Nut)

At end of observation at 8° a.m. Feb. 4th. the plumule was much straighter & tip .85 of inch above ground, & filament fixed .35 above ground, owing to growth of lower part. See tracing magnified 27 times, as filament fixed transversely, this is about real degree of magnification, & the middle of stem, (excluding last great movement late on Feb. 3d) must have moved about .04 or 4/100 of inch from side to side. Plumule thoroughly well protected by lateral light: See tracing. The great movement between 9° 40 & 10° 40' P.m on Feb 3d probably due to the straightening of upper part of plumule, which affected immediately adjoining lower part. Dotted lines course during night. There can I think be no doubt that plumule circumnutates ie does not grow up by equal growth all round stem, but by successive growths on different sides.