214 INVERSION OF TREES. 



And/' I continued^ the fibres^ or root- 

 lets^ are named radicles (radiculce) : these are 

 renewed every year." 



The gardener was saying once/' observed 

 Harriet^ ^^that he could make roots become 

 branches^ and branches roots ; but he did not 

 tell us how ; he only looked very cunning." 



There are many plants/' I said^ which 

 may be so served; as gooseberries^ currants^ 

 willows^ vines^ the ash^ and many others. If 

 you take a small branch of one of these^ and 

 bend it down^ so as to cover it with earth, 

 it will, in a few months, send forth roots into 

 that earth, so that the branch may be quite 

 separated, and it will not die. And you may 

 also take a young shrub, of many sorts, and 

 plant it root uppermost ; it will, in time, grow 

 and send forth buds from the roots, and roots 

 from the branches." 



