360 THE FLORIST AND 



stem, Or one half at the utmost, is cut off, in order that it may grow upright* 

 but at the. same time a sufficient number of buds is left to produce plenty of 

 leaves,- as these encourage the tree to take root by elaborating the sap for 

 the production of numerous small roots. G-ard. Chron. 



PERMANENCE OF , VARIETIES; 



The species of plants, like those of animals, appear to be eternal, so far 

 as anything mundane can deserve that name. There is not the smallest 

 reason to suppose that the Olive of our days is different from that of Noah*, 

 the Asa duleis stamped upon the coins of Cyrene still flourishes around the 

 site of that ancient city ; and the Acorns figured among the sculptures of 

 Nimrod seem to show that the same O.ak now grows on the mountains of 

 Kurdistan as was known there in the days of Sardanapalus. There is not 

 the slightest evidence to show that any species of plant has become extinct 

 during the present order of things. All species have continued to propa- 

 gate themselves by seeds, without losing their specific peculiarities ; some 

 appointed law has rendered them and their several natures eternal. 



It would seem moreover that, with the exception of annuals and others' 

 6f limited existence, the lives of the individual plants born from such seed 

 Would be eternal also, if it were not for the many accidents to which they 

 are exposed, and which eventually destroy them. Trees and other plants 

 of a perennial nature are renovated annually ; annually receding from the 

 point which was originally formed, and which in the nature of things must 

 perish in time. The condition of their existence is a perpetual renewal of 

 youth. In the proper sense of the. word decrepitude cannot overtake them. 

 The Iris creeps along the mud, ever receding from the starting point, renews 

 itself as it advances, and leaves its original stem to die as its. new shoots 

 gain vigor ; in the course of centuries a single Iris might creep around the 

 world itself, if it could only find mud in which to root. The Oak annually 

 forms new living matter over that which was previously formed, the seat of 

 life incessantly retreating from the seat of death. , When such a tree de- 

 cays no injury is felt, because the centre which perches is made good at 

 the circumference, Over which new life is perennially distributed. In the" 

 absence of accidents such a tree might have lived from the creation to this 

 hour ; travellers have even believed that they had found in the forests of 

 Brazil living trees that must have been born in the days of Homer. But 

 here again inevitable accidents interfere, and the trees are prevented from 

 being immortal. 



Species, then, are eternal ; and so would be the individuals sprung from 

 # their seeds, if it were not for accidental circumstances. 



But plants are multiplied otherwise than by seeds. The Hyacinth and 

 the Garlic propagate naturally, not only by seeds, but also, by the perpetual 

 separation of their own limbs, known under the name of bulbs, their bulbs 

 undergoing a similar natural proce.ss of dismemberment; and so on for ever. 

 The Potato plant belongs to the same class. Another plant bends its 

 branches to the ground ; the branches put forth roots, and as soon as these 

 roots are established the connection between parent and offspring is broken, 

 and a new plant springs into independent existence. Of this we find fa- 



