The Nature of the Growth Rate

1. The growth rate of organisms may be considered as a chemical reaction which gives the mature organism as its end-product. The organism grows at a definite rate which is, at any moment, proportional to the amount of growth yet to be made. 2. Shoots of young pear trees measured at weekly intervals during the growing season showed a rate similar to that of an autocatalytic reaction. 3. Young walnut trees showed distinct cycles of growth in a single season, but the growth in each cycle proceeded at a rate corresponding to an autocatalytic reaction. 4. The growth rate follows a definite, quantitative course though judged by different criteria. Data are presented for maize in which green weight, dry weight, and height of the plant are used. Data for cattle show that either weight or height of the animal may be used as a criterion.