NATURAL GRAFTS BETWEEN INDIGENOUS TREES. 39 



We have indeed a composite log, but the timbers are joined 

 together by an art transcending that of the most skilful 

 woodworker. The union appears to be nearly as complete 

 as if the log were homogeneous and the result had been 

 arrived at by staining. And yet, looking more closely at 

 the specimen, one observes the lack of continuity of the 

 kino rings which, are very abundant in the red wood (E. 

 hcemastoma) both in the mature and sap wood, but which 

 largely cease at the junction with the pale wood (E. 

 capitellata). That there is organic union between the two 

 timbers is borne out, not only by their obvious fusion, but 

 also by the fact that the red wood "runs " here and there 

 into the paler timber as if the woody fibres, pigmented by 

 red colouring matter (perhaps phlobaphenes or other tannin 

 derivatives), had lent some of their colouring matter to the 

 fibres of the paler timber with which they are in close 

 juxtaposition. 



An anatomical study of the wood at the line of junction 

 might throw light upon the relations of the cells and 

 vessels of the two timbers at their points of contact, and I 

 hope some one will make the examination. I suppose the 

 sections would have to be treated as opaque objects unless 

 we are fortunate to find a similar natural graft at a far 

 earlier stage. Obviously the fusion is analogous to the 

 artificial union of parts which occurs in grafting and budd- 

 ing. But in his important paper 1 Shattock but cursorily 

 alludes to the subject. 



Since the above was written, the Hon. Dr. Nash, m.l.c, 

 has informed me of the case of a natural graft between a 

 White Gum and an Ironbark at Wallsend near Newcastle, 

 and it is hoped that further instances may be observed 

 and recorded. 



1 "On the reparative processes which occur in vegetable tissues," by 

 Samuel G. Shattock, Proc. Linn. Soc, xix., 1. 



