The Three Modes of Tree Branching
South bark cracks more; three branching patterns illustrated by three small trees; the straight fir a-b
This leaf sets out the three modes of tree branching and is illustrated with three small schematic trees drawn mid-page. It first notes that bark cracks more on the south side than the north, then a chapter distinguishes three patterns: alternate east-west branches offset into the opposite space; opposed pairs set crosswise level by level; and a spiral in which the sixth branch stands above the first. A further chapter adds that plants whose paired branches are equal and opposite grow perfectly straight, like the fir labelled a at top and b at foot, because equal opposite parts draw equal moisture. Below each of the three tree diagrams is a short caption naming a tree (present on the sheet but not included in the transcription).
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The three modes of tree branching
There are three modes of branching. The first sets branches on two opposite aspects, east and west, not directly facing but offset into the middle of the opposite space; the second sets them two by two, opposed, with one pair east-west and the next north-south; the third always carries the sixth branch above the first in succession.
Paired equal branches make a straight trunk (a, b)
All plants that put out their branches in tiers, one opposite the other and of equal thickness, always grow straight like the fir marked a and b. This straightness arises because the opposite parts, being equal in thickness, draw equal moisture and make branches of equal weight.
Three schematic tree diagrams of the branching modes
Three small pen sketches of trees are ranged across the middle of the page, each showing one of the described branching habits — sparse alternating limbs, crosswise paired limbs, and denser tiered limbs. Beneath each stands a short caption naming a tree; these captions are on the sheet but were not included in the transcription.