18 



feet of the cutting. In tlie course of 

 two or three years the pillar of earth is 

 gradually taken away ; when a head has 

 grown on a trunk five or six feet from 

 the ground. 



Most plants which will strike from cut- 

 tings will grow whether the proper end of 

 the cutting is placed upwards or down- 

 wards. Some plants will grow if the 

 head is placed in the earth, and the roots 

 in the air. In this case, the former head 

 throws out roots as a cutting does, and 

 the former root throws out branches as 

 roots often do suckers. It is an error to 

 suppose that the old organisation either 

 of the actually existing head or root can 

 change ; though the new growth in diameter 

 of both will doubtless be reversed ; and in 

 process of time the old roots should be 

 encased in stem wood, and the old head in 

 root wood. The internal structure of such 

 a plant would be worth examination. 



If the centre parts of slips of currant 



