$8 TRANSPLANTING. « 
fibrous roots, which are intended to supply the plant with nourish- 
ment. These fibrous roots are most liable to receive injury from 
transplanting, as they are covered with a very fine cellular integu- 
ment, so delicate in its texture as to be very easily bruised; and they 
each terminate in a number of small pores of extraordinary delicacy 
and susceptibility, which act as little sponges to imbibe moisture for 
the use of the plant. It is well known that these spongioles are the 
only means which the plant possesses of imbibing food, and that if 
they should be all cut off, the plant must provide itself with others, 
or perish for want of nourishment. These spongioles are exactly 
of the nature of a sponge; they expand at the approach of moisture, 
and when surcharged with it, they contract, and thus force it into the 
fibrous roots, the cellular integument of which dilates to receive it ; 
hence the moisture is forced, (by capillary attraction, as it is sup- 
posed,) into the main roots, and thence into the stem and branches 
oishe plant ; circulating like the blood, and, after it has been elabo- 
oe and turned into sap in the leaves, as the blood is changed in 
its nature in the lungs, dispensing nourishment to every part as it 
goes along. 
The roots have no pores but those forming the spongioles; and 
only the fibrous roots appear to possess the power of alternate dila- 
tion and contraction, which power evidently depends on their cellular 
tissue being in an entire and healthy state. Thus, it is quite evident 
that if the spongiole of any fibril be crushed, or even the cellular tis- 
sue injured, it can no longer act as a mouth and throat to convey 
food to the plant. When this is the case, the injured part should be 
instantly removed ; as its elasticity can never be restored, and it is 
much better for the plant to be forced to throw out a new fibril, than 
to be obliged to carry on its circulation weakly and imperfectly with 
a diseased one. Whenever a plant is taken up for transplanting, its 
roots should therefore be carefully examined, and all their injured 
parts cut off, before it is replaced in the ground. Deciduous plants, 
and particularly trees and shrubs, are generally transplanted when 
they are without their leaves ; because at that season they are in no 
danger of suffering from the effects of evaporation. 
Shading is necessary after transplanting any plant that retains its 
leaves ; as the evaporation from the leaves, if exposed to the full ac- 
tion of the light, would be greater than the plant could support with a 
diminished number of spongioles. If it were possible to transplant 
