VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY— THE ROOT. 



always applying either in a clear state. This will wonderfully improve the color of the 

 flowers, and invigorate the plants. The red spider (Acarus,) which is sure to make its 

 appearance, and will destroy all success if not kept down, may be eradicated by syringing 

 occasionally with a solution of whale-oil soap, using one ounce to two gallons of water. 

 Be careful to apply the wash to the under side of the leaves, as it is there mostly, where 

 the pest lodges — using it in the evening, after a bright day, as too much moisture in the 

 atmosphere is apt to spoil the flowers. The green fly (Aphides,) is easily kept under by 

 occasionally fumigating with tobacco. No further care is required. 



By following the above directions, any person with from twenty to thirty good strong 

 plants, may gather a boquet of Roses every morning from the beginning of November to 

 the latter end of May, previous to, and after which, there are plenty out of doors. A 

 small green-house well exposed to the sun, and a small plot of ground outside, will pro- 

 duce roses every day throughout the year. 



The above short list is not a tithe of the roses suitable for forcing, but they are sorts 

 which will bloom without intermission so long as the plants are kept healthy, and freely 

 exposed to the sun's ra3'S. There are also many which have larger and more double flow- 

 ers than some of them, but those mentioned are of different and distinct colors, from white 

 to dark crimson, (including yellow,) and are beautiful in the buds, which are much more 

 prized than the flowers by many. Hoping the above short hints may be useful — I am 

 yours most respectfully, Wm. ChorltoN", gardener to J. G. Green, Esq. 



Staten Island, Augxist 25, 1851. 



STUDIES IN VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY— THE KOOT. 



BY A. A. FAHNESTOCK, SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



In explaining the history of a plant, it is necessary to begin with the most important 

 parts. The root is that organ which, in contradistinction to the stem, seeks to exclude 

 itself from the light and air, and descend into the medium of the earth. Stems and roots, 

 though sufficiently distinct in most plants, are in others often mistaken for one another; 

 but the latter may be readily distinguished from the former by having no buds, and one 

 regular ramification. The principle office of the root seems to be, to supply a copious 

 quantity of nutriment, or sap, for the maintenance of the plant, which it does by " £Jn- 

 dos7nosis." This term may be explained by the following example. When two liquids 

 of unequal density arc separated by a permeable membrane, the lighter liquid, or the 

 weaker solution, will flow into the denser and stronger with a force proportioned to the 

 difference in density — but at the same time a small proportion of the denser liquid will 

 flow into the weaker, which is called " Exosmosis." By the examination of any embryo, 

 of the exogenous structure, we may gain a good idea of the peculiarities of the root. The 

 radicle, or pre-existing axis grows in such a manner as to elongate throughout its whole 

 extent, showing that it is not root itself, but merely the first joint of the stem, which 

 thrusts itself downwards into the soil, while it raises two cotyledons, which supply the 

 place of leaves until the caulineones appear. Contemporaneous with this elongation of the 

 radicle, a new and different growth takes place at the lower extremit)', in a downward 

 direction, which forms the root. The root, then, is a new formation of cells from the 

 root end of the radicle; it commences by a number of very lax, tender cellular tissue, 

 resting upon a blunt cone of woody matter, composed principally of woody tubes, con- 



