Botanical Periodicals. 



171 



thus having tlie branches 

 and root in the two 

 situations most opposed 

 to each other. I'he re- 

 sult has just turned out 

 as I expected ; namely, 

 the roots died, and the 

 inverted stem only pro- 

 duced buds, leaves, and 

 shoots ; proving that the 

 conclusion of Du Hamel 

 and others, on this point, may have been founded on mistake ; as 

 it is very evident, from the specimen I now present, that no such 

 result as buds and leaves from the roots has taken place. 



If the views I entertain on the important subject of vegetable 

 physiology be correct, I can have little hesitation in saying 

 that buds and leaves never can be developed from the extreme 

 ends, or mouth-pieces, of roots ; but that, at any the least 

 distance from the end of the root, buds and leaves may be 

 produced. 



Many plants, we know, are propagated from the roots, as well 

 as from the cuttings of the top : this evidently arises from the 

 simple circumstance of the leaf and root principles being dif- 

 fused over each of their surfaces. 



With these observations, gentlemen, I beg leave, for the 

 present, respectfully to conclude. 



Art. II. The Botanical Periodicals and their Illustrations. 

 By H. N. H. 



Since the establishment of the Botanical Magazine, about 

 1793, which may be considered the father of botanical periodi- 

 cals, and which, for some time, stood alone, the increasing taste 

 for gardening and botany has gradually called into existence 

 many rival publications. Some of these form parts of works to 

 be completed in a given time, which have, in most instances, 

 been completed, and form, in more than one case, handsome 

 additions to our botanical libraries ; and others are of the maga- 

 zine character ; some of them appearing and vanishing almost 

 as soon as they have appeared ; whilst others, with various suc- 

 cess, are still continuing their career, amid the rivalry of fresh 

 competitors, which the still increasing taste for the pursuit, both 

 as a recreation and a science, calls almost daily into existence. 



One of the first works, of a botanical character, that appeared 

 in this country, claiming any great excellence for its illustra- 

 tions, was Lambert's Description of the Genus Pimis ; a truly 



