HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 337 



We shall, therefore, not dwell upon those plants alone that are the orna- 

 ments of the summer season, but also point out some that will contribute to 

 the gaiety of morning and evening of the year ; so that the gloom may be 

 banished at all times as much as possible from the grove, and nature's 

 repose shortened between the plaintive good-night of autumn and the cheer- 

 ful good-morrow of spring. — Flor. Cabinet. 



REMARKS ON THE HEALTHINESS OF THE ROOTS OF PLANTS 

 BEING ESSENTIAL TO THEIR SUCCESSFUL GROWTH. 



BY A PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



As the roots of plants are the chief medium through which they receive 

 nourishment, some account of their structure, and of the curious and simple 

 mode by which they effect their object, will, I hope, prove of some utility 

 to the readers hereof. 



The root may be defined to be that portion of a plant which grows in an 

 opposite direction to the stem ; and differing from the latter in its remark- 

 able downward tendency, and from its disposition to shun the light of day. 

 So powerful, indeed, is this tendency to descend, " that no known force is 

 sufficient to overcome it." The chief object of the root appears to be that 

 of fixing the plant firmly in the earth, and of taking up a supply of mois- 

 ture from the humid medium by which it is surrounded. It usually con- 

 sists of several ramifications, from the sides and extremities of which, with- 

 out any apparent order or regularity, proceed an indefinite number of deli- 

 cate fibrils with spongy points. Now these fibrils are the only true roots, 

 and to their soft extremities (spongelets) is consigned the whole office of 

 absorbing fluid ; the more woody portions of the root merely serving as 

 canals, to convey the fluid thus obtained to the upper parts of the plant. 

 The roots generally pierce the soil in a downward or horizontal direction, 

 according to the individual habit, but more especially in that course which 

 offers the least resistance, and yields the greatest quantity of soluble food. 

 Hence the propriety of mulching is by some gardeners called into ques- 

 tion, because the richness of the mulching material, and the warmth pro- 

 duced by its fermentation, has a tendency to attract the surface the young 

 fibrils. And then, upon the removal of the manure employed in the opera- 

 tion, their extremely succulent and tender tips become exposed to the in- 

 fluence of drought, &c, than which nothing can be more injurious, as it 

 quickly destroys their absorbing power, and thus deprives the plant of its 

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