47 



riod stands boldly opposed at once to all disrooting 

 systems. According to Mr. H., two serious evils are 

 involved in the attempt to get abundance of new 

 white fibres up the stems, viz., the necessity of strip- 

 ping a considerable amount of valuable foliage ; and, 

 secondly, that these white surface roots, if procured, 

 will in all probability produce premature constriction, 

 if not decay, in the original roots, thereby losing the 

 valuable assistance of thousands of mouths, adhering 

 fast to various media, capable of supplying all the 

 wants of the plant. The third feature, viz., a high 

 and moist atmosphere through the depth of winter, 

 appears to be the most disputable ground in the 

 whole. Fourthly, in regard to bottom heat, although 

 Mr. H. may be very right in so moderate a use of 

 bottom heat (when coupled with the rest of his sys- 

 tem), yet, such a moderate degree, if the best for 

 plants thus circumstanced, is by no means binding 

 on those who cultivate them by the old or any other 

 system. Mr. Hamilton has a heated chamber under 

 his fruiting bed, and this circumstance enables him 

 to preserve his roots midisturbed as long as he 

 pleases. Mr. H.'s pines are rooted over the top and 

 through the bottoms of the pots, drawing quite as 

 much nourishment, in all probability, as though they 

 were planted out in the bed. {Gard, Chron, 1845, 

 595.) 



Mr. Hamilton is now endeavouring to increase still 



