BOTANY. 



§89 



such plants as encrease by bulbs or tubers, rarely fail of 

 annually adding to the stock ; besides which numerous sorts 

 grow from twigs, or small branches, which being broken 

 from the parent, fall to the ground, where they soon root, 

 and thus a succession is provided. Succulent p\9.nts possess the 

 vital principle in so high a degree, that many will survive 

 months, without earth or water ; the living principle is not 

 in these confined to the root or the stem, but almost every 

 part possesses it, so, that a single leaf laid on the 

 ground, will soon root, and from it will rise a numerous 

 progeny. Many parasitical plants, natives of hot climates pos- 

 sess this property in a very extraordinary way^ we have 

 known a tuberous leaf of a species of Epidendrum, 

 brought from South America, suspended from the roof of a 

 cabin by a thread, an^ in this manner arrive in England ; on 

 the voyage it produced flowers, and at the time we saw it, a 

 fresh spike of flowers was just appearing, from which a figure 

 was afterwards given in one of the Botanical Periodical pub- 

 lications. This mode of conveying tubers is worthy of remem- 

 brance, as this tribe of vegetables being mostly parasitical, 

 they are with difficulty preserved if placed in mould, when the 

 latter models attempted, care should be taken to surround the 

 tubers with pieces of bark, into which they will often root* 



Some plants will retain their vegetative powers by being 

 buried in dry sand, and kept from the air in a cool situation, 

 as most Bulbs ; other kinds may be placed in damp Moss, 

 first having the roots enveloped with moss so as to form a 

 ball, and then completely covered with damp moss ; many 

 cuttings of trees will bear transporting in this way ; 

 succulent plants, as Aloes, Stapelias, Mesembryanthemums, 



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