268 On the Cultivation and 



in situations far from all interference of art, and brought into 

 existence by fortuitous causes alone. 



• The fertility of plants, as well as the quality of the fruit, can 

 also be improved by checking the luxuriancy of the growth. — 

 This is accomplished in various ways ; — by frequent transplant- 

 ation — by wounding or cutting off some of the principal roots — 

 by circumcision, or ringing the stem, or branches — by double 

 working, i. e., grafting or budding twice or thrice on them- 

 selves — and lastly, by planting in light, shallow, dry soils. The 

 effect of all these violences is to check the cresive energies of 

 the plants, and, consequently, and necessarily, bringing the 

 fructiferous or reproductive essences into action. Why this 

 should be so, is a curious question, and can be better answered 

 by the anatomist, than it has hitherto been by vegetable physio- 

 logists. An exactly similar case exists in animal economy ; 

 and if a reason can be given for the one, it will equally apply, 

 by analogy, to the other. The robustly corpulent and obesious 

 are not the subjects of facilitous fecundity. 



There remains to be noticed the external means which have 

 been practised for the maturation and preservation of fruit- 

 trees ; and these are, defending them from the attacks of insects ; 

 placing them in such soils and situations as are most conge- 

 nial to their natural constitutions ; and protecting them from 

 the extremes of the weather, by walls and skreens of hedges, 

 &c. ; and for the more delicate fruits, providing glass cases, 



" Where blooms perpetual spring, and summer shines 

 *' In months not hers " 



in which all the fruits of our own clime, as well as some of the 

 most valuable of all others, are brought to the greatest perfec- 

 tion ; and even rival, in excellence, those produced under the 

 influence of their native skies. 



We next proceed to show the effects and results of the above- 

 noticed means of improvement ; and beginning among the more 

 humble growths, notice first — 



The Strawberry. — This favourite, fragrant, and delicious 

 fruit is found wild over this, and many other countries of the 

 globe. In its wild state, it is found in woods, and on hills ; 

 hence the two grand divisions of sylvan and alpine strawberries. 



