232 
ECONOMY IN FLORICULTURE. 
plants, one after the other, were decomposed, and even dissolved : in fact, it 
could not be otherwise. For nitric acid, or what is familiarly styled aquafortis^ 
is one of the most highly oxygenated agents we possess^ and which, at the same 
time, liberates its oxygen with great facility. Hence, it acts upon instruments 
of steel or brass with great energy ; and, therefore, we again see the inexpediency 
of haviug recourse to a solvent, which can never lead to accurate conclusions, and 
is in itself extremely dangerous to the operator. 
We are not aware that any pursuit is more worthy of the inquiring mind than 
the study of vegetable structure ; but it is attended with singular difficulty, and is 
subject to extraordinary optical delusion. We may, at a future day, be led to 
offer a series of remarks upon vegetable physiology, especially as the subject of 
the present article may be construed as being too favourable to chemical investi- 
gation. However, not to leave the question in doubt, we urge the adoption of 
every prudent means of investigation, repeating what has already been asserted, 
that chemistry can only be applied to vegetable products^ not to the discovery of 
organic functions ; and thus we advocate the cause of physiology, while we appeal 
to chemistry as a powerful coadjutor. 
In dissecting vegetable bodies, a keen eye, an adroit and practised hand, and a 
certain intuitive perception are indispensable. With these prime requisites, dis- 
sections may be performed, by the aid of no other fluid agent than that of pure 
warm water. 
A good microscope, with a set of single lenses, and furnished with an improved 
stage on which the hands may rest, and yet act with perfect freedom, is the chief 
instrument, to which must be added, needles, tweezers, and a small dissecting-knife, 
or lancet. We may thus arrive at some rational theory, but still shall remain 
ignorant of all connected with vitality. 
ECONOMY IN FLORICULTURE. 
Continuing our suggestions on this prolific subject, we may notice that, by the 
arrangement of plants in houses, a means is afforded of consulting economy in a 
considerable degree ; since, accordingly as different plans are adopted, the same 
superficial covering of glass may be made to protect a very varied number of plants, 
and also to give them suitable accommodation. For it must at once be affirmed, 
that no crowding of the specimens, in such a manner as to injure them, would, in 
our Tiew, be at all a prudent or economical course. It is only by giving them all 
tlie room they require, and by doing this in such a way as shall put a greater than 
usual quantity of plants beneath the same roof, that a real and ultimate saving is to 
be accomplished. 
Now, one of the methods of economizing space in plant-houses, is by following 
out a well-known law relative to surfaces generally. It is universally understood 
