BVDft. 



15u 



prived a Rose tree of its branches and leaves, suffering 

 nothing to remain but the buds, which would have pro- 

 duced flowers, the ensuing spring. They continued to 

 grow, but when the period of their expansion arrived, 

 instead of flowers they put forth branches and leaves. 



An accident which occurred in one of the Royal gar- 

 dens of England first demonstrated the possibility of 

 increasing the proportion of flower buds. A West 

 India plant* which had for several years been culti- 

 vated in the green house grew luxuriantly, but refused 

 to produce flowers. " At length it was accidentally 

 left without water, in the dry stove at Kew, and in con- 

 sequence of this unintentional neglect, the luxuriant 

 growth of its branches was greatly checked, and a flow- 

 er came forth at the extremity of each. By a similar 

 mode of treatment, the same effect has since frequently 

 been produced. Several plants, especially with bul- 

 bous roots, which blossom abundantly in their native 

 soils, have hitherto defied all the art of our gardeners 

 to produce this desirable effect ; yet future experience 

 may possibly place it within our reach by some very 

 simple means. In general, whatever checks the luxu- 

 riant productions of leaf-buds, favours the formation 

 of flowers and seeds. That variety of the Orange Li- 

 ly which is most prolific in buds, seldom forms seeds, 

 or even those organs of the flower necessary to their 

 perfection. So likewise the seeds of Mints, a tribe of 

 plants which increase excessively by roots, have hardly 

 been detected by any botanist ; and it is asserted by 

 Doody, that when the elegant little Ornithopus perpu- 

 sillus does not produce pods, it propagates itself by 

 grains or tubercles of its root, though in general th? 



* Solandra grandiftortt . 



