SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 333 



labour under him in his laboratory ; and so it might be with such an 

 establishment as I have supposed, if properly conducted." 



How the Chinese make Dwarf Trees. — We have all known from 

 childhood how the Chinese cramp their women's feet, and so manage to 

 make them " keepers at home ;" but how they contrive to grow minia- 

 ture pines and oaks in flower-pots for half a century has always been 

 much of a secret. It is the product chiefly of skilful, long-continued, 

 root-pruning. They aim first and last at the seat of vigorous growth, 

 endeavouring to weaken it as far as may consist with the preservation 

 of life. They begin at the beginning. Taking a young plant (say a 

 seedling or cutting of a cedar), when only two or three inches high, 

 they cut off its tap root as soon as it has other rootlets enough to live 

 upon, and replant it in a shallow earthen pot or pan. The end of the tap- 

 root is generally made to rest on the bottom of the pan, or on a flat stone 

 within it. Alluvial clay is then put into the pot, much of it in bits the 

 size of beans, and just enough in kind and quantity to furnish a scanty 

 nourishment to the plant. Water enough is given to keep it in growth, 

 but not enough to excite a vigorous habit. So, likewise, in the applica- 

 tion of light and heat. As the Chinese pride themselves on the shape 

 of their miniature trees, they use strings, wires, and pegs, and various 

 other mechanical contrivances, to promote symmetry of habit, or to 

 fashion their pets into odd fancy figures. Thus, by the use of very shal- 

 low pots, the growth of the taproots is out of the question ; by the use 

 of poor soil and little of it, and little water, strong growth is prevented. 

 Then, too, the top and side roots being within easy reach of the gardener, 

 are shortened by his pruning-knife or seared with his hot iron. So 

 the little tree, finding itself headed on every side, gives up the idea of 

 strong growth, asking only for life, and just growth enough to live and 

 look well. Accordingly, each new set of leaves becomes more and more 

 stunted, the buds and rootlets are diminished in proportion, and at 

 length a balance is established between every part of the tree, making it 

 a dwarf in all respects. In some kinds of trees this end is reached in 

 three or four years ; in others ten or fifteen years are necessary. Such 

 is fancy horticulture among the Celestials. 



Wild Arrow Root. — In the jungles of Chittagong, and other parts 

 of India, is found a species of ginger, commonly known as " wild arrow- 

 root." The leaves of this plant die off at the end of the rains, and its 

 tubers are found during the cold weather abounding in starch, which 

 they yield to slicing and maceration in water. Starch is largely used in 

 manufactures in England, and a great quantity of the rice exported from 

 America is converted into starch. If this Indian starch were imported 

 in quantity at a cheap rate, it would find a ready sale. The supply of 

 the wild arrowroot is inexhaustible, and if removed at the proper time 

 of year, w r ould furnish materials for a simple and valuable manufacture, 

 while at the same time the growth of a noxious jungle would be checked. 



