THE JAPANESE DWARF TREES. 



35 



in, the supply both of nourishment and water being scanty, and from the 

 trees, moreover, being exposed to the broiling rays of the sun. 



Trees with Aerial Eoots. — In many plants, the roots, on being 

 confined in the very limited space of a vase, are forced to rise above the 

 soil. To encourage this bareness of the roots, the earth is removed 

 gradually, and the trunk finds itself raised above the ground and 



Fig. 14. — Cycas kevoluta ; 15, Chamaecyparis ; 16, Cryptouaria. 



supported from four to thirteen inches in height above the vase by its 

 roots like an epiphytic plant or a Pandanus (figs. 15 and 17). 



But in the majority of cases these long, frail, aerial roots are obtained 

 by a different treatment, which commences on the sowing of the seed. 

 Each seed is placed in the midst of a small space in a receptacle with 

 firm walls, in which is a mixture of cocoa-nut fibre, moss, torn-up rags, 



F 



