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However, in the same length of time, the root makes a stronger growth when 

 kept under glass, or in hot beds, than where the plants are in the open ; — 

 for these glass cases all have bottom heat. Finally, the aerial axis finds itself 

 under conditions making possible an especially rapid and abundant develop- 

 ment. The atmosphere rich in water vapor and carbon dioxid develops the 

 largest individual cells possible with comparatively little transpiration, 

 hence, the turgid and significant large size of the foliage. Therefore, in 

 garden cultures in small pots, the root is better and earlier formed and 

 utilized, so that the injuries due to root curvature and bruising make them- 

 selves first felt at a time when the aerial axis has already made a consider- 

 able growth. That growers, however, clearly recognize the disadvantage of 

 small pots and, when possible, do without them is evident from the so-called 

 "feeding cultures" (forcing). In this the specimens are shifted into larger 

 pots as the root branches penetrate to the sides of the pot. 



Dwarf-growth (Nanism). 



The dwarf conifers found in trade under the name "Japanese or 

 Chinese Trees of Life" show an interesting effect of the influence of a 

 limited soil space. The figure on the next page illustrates a living specimen 

 which has been classified by the well-known firm J. C. Schmidt (Berlin) as 

 Thuja obtusa and kindly placed at our disposal. The tree, with the pot, is 

 86 cm. high in all, — and 60 cm. high above the soil. At its greatest width 

 the crown is 80 cm. across. The base of the trunk, divided into several pro- 

 truding ridges, has a diameter of 19 cm., the trunk at the height of the 

 crown, where the branches appear, one of 12 cm. This healthy specimen, 

 with a dense crown, whose age is estimated to be 100 years, cost $87.50. 



In literature, notes may often be found referring to the skill of the 

 Japanese and Chinese in growing dwarf specimens of trees, hundreds of 

 years old for table-decoration^ 



Our examination of the trunk from a dead tree destroys the halo of 

 the miraculous, with which these productions of Japanese and Chinese hor- 

 ticulture have been surrounded. A section 8 cm. long and 6 cm. at its 

 widest diameter showed most excentric annual rings. The distance of the 

 pith from the bark amounted to 1.5 cm. at one side of the trunk and to 6.5 

 cm. at the other. Counting with a magnifying glass showed 30 annual rings 

 on the wider, but only 15 on the narrower side. On the side favored in growth, 

 a great variation in the breadth of the annual rings was noticeable. Four 



1 In an article on "dwarf growth in the vegetable kingdom, "* Griibe quotes a 

 report by Sir Geo. Staunton, from "des Grafen McCartney Ge.sandtschaftsreise nach 

 China," Berlin 1798. Staunton saw in Tintr-hai, spruces, oaks and orange trees 

 none of which were more than 2 feet high and on which fruit had set abundantly. 

 At the base of the trunk the soil was covered with layers of stones weathered and 

 covered with moss giving the pots the appearance of great age. "Throughout 

 China, there is a great liking for these artificial plant dwarfs for we found them, 

 as a rule, in every house of any pretention whatever." It is there further related 

 that the "liliputian" trees were propagated bv binding loam or garden soil around 

 different branches. This was kept moist until the branches developed new roots in 

 the earth ball; they were then cut off. We still use this process in the layering of 

 branches or top shoots and the covering of the cut places with moss. This plan 



