412 



MR. MAINS VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 



number of them are developed in succeeding years. A few at the point always burst, 

 namely, the leader and two or three laterals, part of the latter being resolved into 

 branches. Some of the lower situated are prolonged into spurs, and become flower 

 buds, as at/, jr, Fig. 47 ; many remain dormant, and are never developed unless the 

 stem be cut over immediately above their station. 



" From these circumstances it appears, in respect of secondary or tertiary buds 

 springing from the vital envelope, that that member is possessed of these latent 

 principles, which are put forth when surrounding circumstances favour their develop- 

 ment. It was this fact which induced an eminent French botanist to imagine, that 

 vital gems floated in the sap : for on no other principle could he account for their 

 inexplicable appearance." 



Lest our readers should imagine that Mr. Main's work is throughout 

 of this fanciful cast, we must remark that by far the greater portion of 

 it is practical, derived, as is stated on the title page, from fifty years' 

 experience. We have accordingly most excellent chapters on " sowing ;" 

 " transplanting ; " " propagation ; " " pruning ; " " training ; " " fell- 

 ing timber ; " " grubbing ; " &c. We shall select as a specimen, a 

 passage from his remarks on " pruning," which the reader may remark 

 is not even tinged, much less vitiated, by his fancies about the life being 

 a te distinct member." 



" Fir timber for the use of builders and mast makers cannot be too free from knots, 

 and it is impossible to have it so, unless planted and trained up in the closest order. 

 When so disposed no lower branches can live to distort the longitudinal structure of 

 the bole. The centres of the trunks when cut up for use, only show the bases of 

 the first laterals ; but every concentric layer of wood imposed after these first 

 branches decay is free from knots. (Fig. 55.) 



Vertical section of a tree, the lateral branches of which had consecutively died, or been cut 

 when three years old. 



" A single fir requires a large space, and produces the worst timber ; its first 

 branches continue to enlarge and extend themselves, sweeping the ground as long 

 as the stem continues to rise ; and though the latter arrives at a great size, its tim- 

 ber is of the most inferior description, being deteriorated by large knots. (Fig. 56.) 



