LETTERS ON TREES. 



nothing else was done than to slope off the top of the stump, | 

 so as to prevent the lodgement of rain. The next spring a 



great number of buds were developed, along nearly the whole ' 



ength of the sturap, where no buds or branches had grown ^' 

 for many previous years; these, in process of time, became 



branches ; and the topmost branches having gradually changed (x 



their direction (in accordance with the well-known law) from j[ 



the horizontal to the perpendicular, now appear like continua- ,| 

 tions of the stem ; and the tree, after an interval of about 

 twenty-seven years, has quite recovered its symmetrical appear- 



ance, although its aspect is of course very different from that I 



which it presented before the accident." * u 



10. If it be maintained by Dr Carpenter, that, in | 

 this instance, the buds which were developed, the " 

 spring following the accident, along nearly the whole ' 

 length of the stump, proceeded from the general ^ 

 cellular basis of an older date than the Cambium- " 

 layer formed the year the accident occurred, it may 

 be asked on what grounds he forms his opinion. ' 

 Nothing appears in the narrative to make it even 

 probable that they did so. If, however, it be admitted 

 that the buds proceeded from the Cambium-layer of 

 the same year's formation with themselves, a very few 

 considerations will, I think, serve to shew that this 

 Elm proves nothing against the theory. Agreeably 

 to this theory, the Cambium-layer is the source or i 

 matrix of the roots of the plants which emanate from 

 the buds. Now, observe first of all what Professor 



* Ibid. pp. 90S-4. 



