STUDIES OP PLANT LIFE 



The flower-bearing bulb deceases from exhaustion of its 

 substance, shrivels, turns brown, and begins to decay, while 

 the other continues slowly but steadily to go on increasing, 

 bearing in its bosom the embryo flower-stein and foliage 

 which are to appear the following year. Another tiny bulb 

 is also preparing in like manner, attached by a slender 

 fleshy cord to its companion. Thus from year to year the 

 process goes on, each one taking the place of its predecessor 

 after its office has been fulfilled. 



This singular mode of reproduction seems to supersede 

 the necessity for the development of seed as in other flower- 

 ing plants; nor is it so common to find seedlings of the 

 Orchids springing up round the parent plant, as in the case 

 of other flowers. 



The reason why so few amateur florists succeed in trans- 

 planting the native Orchids into their gardens lies in the 

 want of due care in taking them up. The life of the plant 

 for the following season being contained in the new forming 

 tuber, if this be in the least injured the chance of another 

 flower in the future is at an end. The succulent tender 

 roots are easily broken or wounded, and these strike rather 

 deep down in the soil and must be taken up uninjured, 

 with a good portion of the mould, or there is small chance 

 of life for the plant. Nor will the Orchis thrive in common 

 earth; it requires fibrous peaty soil, moisture, and some 

 shade, with the warmth that arises from the moist soil and 

 shelter of the surrounding herbage. They all thrive best in 

 the conservatory or greenhouse. 



GOLDEN DODDER Cuscuta Gronovii (Willd.). 



This singular parasitical plant occurs on the rocky shores 

 of our inland lakes. There seem to be two species: one 



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