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Tender Growth: The world may not tolerate unchecked population growth in less developed areas that depend on international priate recognition, at least at this early stage. In fact, there seems to be far more tender growth concern for the hygiene of other planets than for that of our own. One wonders whether the unspoken assumption is that, for this planet, it is a/ready too late.
It is the gardener's task to make use of the weather as much as possible. Temperature directly influences the rate of plant growth. The fastest growth will take place at the higher temperature limits of an individual plant's tolerance. A plant classified as tender growth will not endure temperatures below 32°F (0°C). A half-hardy plant can stand a few degrees of frost, but not a cold winter. By contrast, a hardy plant can tolerate considerable cold. Naturally, the degree of hardiness varies from plant to plant. How well a plant grows in an area depends largely on its native climate and on how easily it can adapt to its new environment.
Lateral growth in trees frequently begins later than growth in height, but the period of lateral growth is longer. Rates of lateral growth likewise are low at the outset, increasing after a few weeks and then diminishing. In view of the long annual period of lateral growth in trees, deleterious environmental conditions may exercise a pronounced effect on growth. In the wood of trees of temperate regions, narrow and wide growth rings may be observed, marking years characterized by unfavorable and favorable conditions for growth.
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