ON GREEN MOSS, 105 



and air upon the sides of the pot, if the roots are matted, will 

 dry the roots, and the plants will become sickly and die. 



In potting, never cut off the matted roots with a knife, but 

 merely pull them with the fingers without damaging the ball more 

 than is necessary. 



Always let the plants stand in an airy part of the greenhouse, 

 and never crowd them among other plants, or they will not pros' 

 per. 



In propagating, select half- ripened wood for cutting, plant them 

 in sand, cover them with a bell-glass, and place them in a shady 

 part of the greenhouse, or in a frame. In both situations they 

 must be shaded from the sun, until they have struck root. 



ARTICLE IV. 

 ON THE GREEN MOSS ON ROSE TREES, AND OTHER SHRUBBY 



Plants. 



BY A PRACTICAL GARDESER; 



Many readers of the Cabinet must have observed in their walks 

 through a shrubbery, the unsightly appearance of the stems and 

 trunks of rose bushes and larger shrubs, being entirely destitute 

 of bark. Is it a natural disease incident to old trees? I am in- 

 clined to thing that this is not the case, for I have seen compara- 

 tively young trees, covered as much as the old ones. It will be 

 observed that trees on rocks, on walls, on soil, and in fact on 

 every thing that is exposed to the action of the atmosphere in a 

 fixed state, a green covering, which, when minutely examined 

 appear like a green powder, and if allowed to remain, would form 

 into patches of moss. This seems to be the most minute of the 

 vegetable creation, and I believe the very foundation of it and 

 but for the industry of man, this would be the clothing that Na 

 ture would assume in this moist climate. The particles of th' 

 green powder must be exceedingly minute, as it remains invisible 

 until great masses are collected together. Now it is obvious where 

 this adheres to a tree, it must close up its pores, and thereby 

 prevent the vessels from being acted upon by the external air 

 I likewise think it receives nourishment by exhausting the sap 

 in tlic.bark, which will first begin to crack, and afterwards die 

 Bod full off. I am the more induced to form this opinion by 



