transactions of the London Horticultural Societt/. 401 



" As white lime does not look sightly upon wall-trees, I either mix soot 

 with it, or else use the mixture without either the soot or lime ; and fre- 

 quently, instead of the drainage of the farm-yard, I have employed tobac- 

 conist's liquor, mixed with soft-soap and sulphur." 



7. On the Power possessed by Plants of absorbing coloured Infusions by their 

 Roots. By G. J. Towers, Esq., C.M.H.S. Read November 4. 1834. 



Various physiologists have immersed cuttings of a variety of plants into 

 coloured infusions, with a view to detect the conduits of the sap. For several 

 seasons, this was done by Mr. Towers, who was always able to trace deposits 

 of the colouring matter made use of, among and around those bundles of 

 fibres which were considered the conducting vessels of the ascending sap. 

 After trying a number of experiments by watering balsams growing in soil 

 with coloured infusions, without being able to detect the slightest appearance 

 of colour in the vessels of the plants, even though investigated with the 

 microscope, the plants thriving all the while as well as those watered with 

 ordinary water, Mr. Towers immersed rooted balsam plants in the same 

 kind of liquid infusions with which he had watered the soil, when they all 

 perished ; the rooted balsam in the infusion of Brazil wood, and in a solution 

 of iron, in a few minutes, and a balsam cutting within six hours ! Thus it is 

 proved, says Mr. Towers, " that the identical liquid which yields life, sup- 

 port, and health to roots when ramifying in a bed or matrix of earth, will 

 destroy as with a stroke of lightning, those same plants when they are exposed 

 to its immediate agency. 



" I argue then from the results which I have detailed, first, that coloured or 

 chemical infusions and liquids will not enter into the vascular or cellular 

 system, provided the plant, either by its own vital energy, or by the decom- 

 posing power of the soil, remain in a state of health and power to develope 

 its new parts ; therefore, that no precise knowledge of the sap vessels can be 

 obtained by such artificial means as have usually been employed. Secondly, 

 That where a plant ceases to grow, turns yellow, and evidently becomes 

 sickly, it may absorb unnatural aliment ; not, however, through its regular 

 organs of absoption, but by diseased action through, in all probability, ab- 

 raded surfaces ; hence then, while vital energy acts, and health remains un- 

 impaired, true sap alone is generated. The -office of soil is to reduce all 

 substances to its own nature; and this it speedily effects through the stimulus 

 of living vegetation. If, however, substances foreign to soil superabound, 

 injury, as abrasion or corrosion, is, I apprehend, induced ; diseased action and 

 absorption supervene ; the plant becomes poisoned, sickens, and perishes." 



8. On the Means employed in raising a Tree of the Imperatrice Nectarine. 



By T. A. Knight, Esq., F.R.S., Pres. Read February 3. 1835. 



The tree sent was composed of an almond stock, raised from seed in the 

 spring of 1834, in which two buds were inserted on opposite sides, in the end of 

 April of the same year. The plant was in a pot in a forcing-house, and as soon 

 as the buds were properly united to the stock, the plant was placed under a 

 north wall. After being there a few days it was headed down, and again brought 

 into the forcing-house, when the two inserted buds vegetated, and each pro- 

 duced a lateral branch, which acquired the length of about 2 ft. 6 in., and 

 formed a few blossom buds ! Mr. Knight considers the almond as a stock 

 for the peach and nectarine, only inferior to the plum in not so well bearing 

 transplantation. For this reason the plant above-mentioned was kept in a 

 pot, and sent in that state to the Horticultural Society. " I will request," 

 says Mr. Knight, " that the little tree sent may be planted in fresh unmanured 

 soil, without having the branches shortened, and so superficially that a part 

 of its roots may remain permanently visible above the soil. The fruit, which 

 it will produce, will not be nearly as good as that of an older tree ; and it is 



