B OTAN Y 



HOW THE CHIXESE MAKE DWARF TREES. 



We have all known from childhood how the Chinese cramp their 

 women's feet, and so manage to make them " keepers at home," but 

 how they contrive to grow miniature pines and oaks in flower-pots for 

 half a century has always been much of a secret. It is the product 

 chiefly of skilful, long-continued root-pruning. They aim, first and 

 last, at the seat of vigorous growth, endeavoring to weaken it as far 

 as may consist with the preservation of life. They begin at the be- 

 ginning. Taking a young plant (say a seedling or cutting of a 

 cedar), when only two or three inches high, they cut off its tap-root 

 as soon as it has other rootlets enough to live upon, and replant it in 

 a shallow earthen pot or pan. The end of the tap-root is generally 

 made to rest on the bottom of the pan, or on a flat stone within it. 

 Alluvial clay is then put into the pot, much of it in bits the size of 

 beans, and just enough in kind and quantity to furnish a scanty nour- 

 ishment to the plant. Water enough is given to keep it in growth, 

 but not enough to excite a vigorous habit. So, likewise, in the appli- 

 cation of light and heat. As the Chinese pride themselves also on the 

 shape of their miniature trees, they use strings, wires, and pegs, and 

 various other mechanical contrivances, to promote symmetry of habit, 

 or to fashion their pets into odd fancy figures. Thus, by the use of 

 very shallow pots, the growth of the tap-roots is out of the question ; 

 by the use of poor soil, and little of it, and little water, strong growth 

 is prevented. Then, too, the top and side roots, being within easy 

 reach of the gardener, are shortened by his pruning knife, or seared 

 with his hot iron. So the little tree, finding itself headed on every 

 side, gives up the idea of strong growth, asking only for life, and just 

 growth enough to live and look well. Accordingly, each new set of 

 leaves becomes more and more stunted, the buds and rootlets are 

 diminished in proportion, and at length a balance is established be- 

 tween every part of the tree, making it a dwarf in all respects. In 

 some kinds of trees this end is reached in three or four years; in 

 others ten or fifteen years are necessary. Such is fancy horticulture 

 among the Celestials. Scottish Farmer. 



IMPORTANT USE OF SEAWEED. 



M. E. Legou has presented a report to the Paris Academy of 

 Sciences on the employment of seaweed, applied in layers against the 



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