  We report measurements of the initial growth and subsequent transient
response of dendritic crystals of ammonium chloride grown from supersaturated
aqueous solution. Starting from a small, nearly spherical seed held in unstable
equilibrium, we lower the temperature to initiate growth. The growth speed and
tip radius approach the same steady state values independent of initial seed
size. We then explore the response of the growing dendrite to changes in
temperature. The crystal adjusts quickly and smoothly to the new growth
conditions, maintaining an approximately constant value of $v \rho ^2$
throughout. Dissolving dendrites, on the other hand, are not characterized by
the same value of $v \rho ^2$.
