170 Detail of Experiments on Vegetable Physiology. 



sirable that thus, by direct experiment, the subject should be fur- 

 ther investigated. 



As yet, I am extremely diffident in venturing any general 

 theory respecting the views I am led to entertain on the subject 

 before us, until I have made further advances into its inves- 

 tigation ; so far, however, I cannot help thinking that I am 

 fully justified in the formation of some views concerning it, 

 differing considerably from any that I am aware have as yet 

 been promulgated. 



In the midst of so many learned gentlemen, perhaps it would 

 be well for such an humble practitioner as I am not to venture 

 such statements; but I am in hopes the learned gentlemen I 

 have the honour and pleasure of addressing will give me credit 

 not only for the correctness of my statements in reference to 

 the experiments described, but also their kind indulgence for the 

 observations I have so far taken the liberty of making. I trust, 

 gentlemen, I need not say how much pleasure it will afford me 

 to follow any suggestions that may be offered, on the present 

 occasion, towards the further prosecution of these investiga- 

 tions. 



To conclude : it is about two years since 1 wrote a short 

 paper on the subject of the frst series of my experiments ; 

 w^hich paper I had the honour of reading at one of the evening 

 meetings of the Royal Dublin Society. In this paper, reasoning 

 from the external developements alluded to, I was led to doubt 

 the possibility of roots becoming branches, or branches roots, as 

 had been published, as the results of several experiments ; which 

 opinion, I have since found, agrees exactly with that which is 

 held by Mr Knight ; who, in a note on the subject, says, with 

 respect to the statements made by different naturalists, that 

 " the branches of willows, and other trees, when buried in the soil, 

 became roots, whilst their roots became branches, is not correct ;" 

 instancing the mistake that Du Hamel made by making his 

 cuttings too short. 



For the purpose of further satisfaction on this point, and 

 feeling that it might bear importantly eitherybr or against the 

 views I am led to entertain on this interesting subject, I have 

 had several specimens prepared during the last two years, of 

 w^hich I now present one. To accomplish the object in view, 

 namely, the inverting of the tree, and the changing of roots to 

 branches, &c., both ends of the cutting were inserted into the 

 soil, as shown in^^. 27. 



The whole of the part above ground produced shoots, which, 

 for the first year, I allowed to grow. Early last spring, the bottom 

 end (a) was carefully raised, with all its roots and fibres, into the 

 air : at the same time, a few of the young shoots next the top end 

 (b), alongside the few roots of the top end, were put into the soil ; 



