182 ON THE COCKSCOMB. 



same for others who have them not, to judge if I have mistaken him. 

 The part of the Transactions are vol. ii., second series, p. 217, Upon 

 the supposed Absorbent Powers of the Spongioles, c/c. 



He says, " It is admitted the sap rises through the alburnum," and 

 the spon gioles do not possess alburnum ; this called up my attention 

 to it. 



" I therefore believe my opinion, that spongioles are imperfectly 

 organized parts of the plant, which neither absorb from the soil, nor 

 transmit fluid of any kind for the service of other parts of it, to be 

 well founded. But alburnous matter is generated with great rapidity 

 within them, and they become to a very great extent transmuted into 

 perfect roots, long before the growth of the stem or branches of the 

 tree commences in the spring ; and by these newly-formed roots, (but 

 not by these exclusively,) I conceive that nutriment is absorbed from 

 the soil, and sent up into the leaves, to be there converted into the 

 true sap of the plant. I am aware that the above-stated opinions are 

 in opposition to those of many eminent physiologists, to which much 

 deference is due ; but I think that they have erroneously included 

 within their spongioles portions of alburnous fibre, a substance never 

 found in the organ properly called a spongiole." 



ARTICLE VII. 



ON THE COCKSCOMB. 



BY Q. S., A CONSTANT SUBSCRIBER. 



Having been a subscriber to the Floricultural Cabinet from the 

 commencement, and seeing several articles inserted on the growth of 

 that beautiful plant the Cockscomb, which, when well grown, are 

 magnificent objects, I beg leave to give a few remarks on my mode of 

 cultivation, which being somewhat different, and affords me the 

 greatest success, it perhaps may be useful to some of your readers. 



In the first week in April I sow the seed in a cucumber or melon 

 frame, or any good moist heat ; as soon as the plants are up, and suf- 

 ficiently strong, I "pot them off into 60-sized pots, placing them in a 

 heat of 65 to 70 degrees, where I allow them all the air I possibly 

 can in fine weather, as that adds greatly to the strength of the plant. 

 When they have sufficiently filled their pots, I repot them into forty- 

 eights, placing them in the heat as before, where I let them remain 



