10 



some plants of peculiar delicacy and tenderness might 

 require many generations to inure them to colder cli- 

 mates, yet these wonderful though simple powers 

 of the seed would produce finally the change. But 

 the planting of seed is often of so prospective a ben- 

 efit that few have the courage to plant. 



" Old as I am," says Sir Joseph Banks, in his com- 

 munication to the London Horticultural Society,* " I 

 certainly intend this year to commence experiments 

 on the Myrde and Laurel," and at the sime time 

 with great modesty but in a cheering tone, " I trust, 

 therefore, it will not be thought presumptuous in me 

 to invite those of my brethren who are younger than 

 I am, and who of course will see the effect of more 

 generations than I shall do, to take measures for 

 bringing to the test the theory I have ventured to 

 bring forward." Possibly by these means the Mag- 

 nolia Glauca at some later time may adorn our woods 

 more generally, and ornament the grounds of every 

 residence in our vicinity. 



It was known to the ancient cultivators, and per- 

 haps it required no great experience to discover the 

 fact that cuttings from the bearing branches did not 

 afford durable trees.f 



Mr Knight recommended as a method of perpetu- 

 ating a variety with vigor, to obtain plants from some 

 detached part of the extremity of the roots. 



By sowing a large number of seeds at hazard, 

 doubtless some good variety might be obtained, but 

 the process might prove one of perplexity and disap- 

 pointment instead of pleasure or profit. 



"Lon Hor. Trans, vol. I. p. 24. f Columella and Virgil. 



