410 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



trunk was tlieu bored and converted into a cylinder, having an in- 

 ternal diameter of about six inches, the fresh wood being trimmed 

 so as to remove any broken parts. The young trees were seven ia 

 number, raised from seeds, aged from two to four years, having 

 strong roots and straight stems, aboutsixty-four inches long. They 

 were of very different families. The roots were trimmed, the branches 

 removed, and the extremities of the stems cut off. These were 

 planted on March 15, 1813, in a circular hole, a yard and ahalf in 

 diameter, the roots being led outwards and the stems being lightly 

 tied together: a little earth was then sprinkled over them, and 

 afterwards the perforated trunk put in its place, being let doAvn 

 over the young plants, the stems of which were guided through it. . 

 Good earth was then put in amongst the roots, and the ground co- 

 vered up and well watered. After being planted, the stems of the 

 small plants were retained at an equal distance from each other, 

 and from the sides of the aperture, by pads of moss, inserted at the 

 aperture; and a direction outwards was given to them, by fastening 

 them to a hoop. The plants were watered in times of dryness or 

 of heat with muddy water, four or five holes being made about the 

 group, that the air and water might have access to the roots of the 

 young plants. In order to equalize the growth of the plants, that 

 one might not rob another, such as were most vigorous were de- 

 prived of their small branches and buds ; and somet/mes the stems 

 were bent so as to prevent the sap from circulating with too much 

 facility. During the winter, the weakest plants were cut short, that 

 the few buds left might receive a greater accession of nutriment, 

 while the stronger ones were left of greater leugth. The trunk of 

 the tree, though perforated completely, threw out many buds on 

 its surface; these were left to grow the first year, but in after years 

 those branches were removed which interfered with the other 

 plants. Such was the growth of the plants thus enclosed, that 

 in a few years they entirely filled the cavity of the perforated 

 tree, after which the sap not being able to return freely to 

 the roots, a swelling was formed at the top of the old trunk, which 

 after some time expanded, so as to make every trace of the cavity 

 covered by it, disappear. It was then necessary, for other reasons, 

 to cut down this group of trees ; but had it remained, there is no 

 doubt but the different plants would soon have yielded fruit, pro- 

 bably to an excessive degree, from the hindrance to the return oC 

 the sap. 



This experiment was varied by cutting a tree while standing 

 so as to leave a trunk betv/een six and seven feet long; it was 

 bored as it stood, as low as the roots, and then holes were made 

 through the side ; the young plants were then introduced through 

 these holes, which were afterwards covered with earth, S^-c. 



M. Thouin is quite convinced that it was by an operation of 

 this kind that the tree, or collection of trees, which Pliny speaks 

 of, was produced. 



