17(5 * JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



leaves but one remained vigorous, being about half an inch long. The 

 smaller buds, a quarter of an inch long, were in the axils of the next pair 

 of leaves. Lastly, the terminal bud and pair of leaves were quite fresh 

 and green. 



On the two stems which had their apices in water, the lowest leaves 

 (in air) were more or less withered by July 2. The apex of the shoot in 

 air and all its buds were now beginning to grow vigorously. Three 

 blossoms were borne and expanded on these shoots with their apices only 

 in water. 



By July 7 a great quantity of adventitious roots had made their 

 appearance from the nodes in water. 



This musk-plant thus grew slowly, but well for more than a month ; 

 and on removing it from the perfectly dry soil several subterranean buds 

 were pushing vigorously. 



One learns also from this experiment, as from previous ones, that 

 it is immaterial to a plant which way the water may flow ; for it was 

 downwards in the shoots with their apices in water, but of course 

 upwards in the shoot in air. 



A similar plant left without water on the same day (June 4) became 

 flaccid in two days, and perished utterly in two or three more. 



Other plants, such as Lysimachia Nummularia, &c, gave similar 

 results. 



10. On the Advantages of Syringing Plants in a Greenhouse. 



This is, of course, a universal practice ; but if the roots were the 

 solely possible absorbing organs, as has been supposed, why do not 

 gardeners confine the water to the roots ? According to M. Duchartre, 

 one would infer that Nature only rains upon plants and deposits dew 

 upon herbs solely because it cannot be helped, but with no direct benefit 

 to vegetation. But it would seem that, by syringing, practical experience 

 has forestalled the scientific rationale. Gardeners have all along believed 

 in its efficacy, though they may not have "proved" the actual 

 leaf absorption. The physiological experiments of Hales, Bonnet, and 

 others, down to those of Boussingault and myself, have now, it is hoped, 

 given a complete proof of this fact ; and we may thus sum up the 

 advantages of syringing : — It keeps the leaves clean from dust, and helps 

 to wash oil* insects. It moistens the cuticle, and so perhaps renders it 

 more pervious to carbon dioxide (Barthelemy). It also renders it more 

 capable of absorbing water (Garreau). It checks the loss by transpira- 

 tion (Duchartre), and so enables the terminal shoots and young leaves 

 of B plant to be well supplied with sap by drawing upon the reserve fluid 

 in the stem. It keeps the air cool by evaporation ; and, lastly, it may be 

 actually imbibed by the leaves and green parts of plants, and so help to 

 compensate for any loss from within the plant, and thus supplement 

 root-absorption. 



What is true for syringing is, of course, equally true for rain. 



