10 
GARDENING AS A SCIENCE. 
fresh-fallen acorn being suspended in a hyacinth-glass, just above the surface of the 
water, with which the glass is to be previously three-parts filled. 
If cuttings of any free-rooting plant, as of the horse-shoe geranium, be inserted 
in a phial of water, and kept at a heat of 60'', it will be seen that a ring of the 
substance called callus, is gradually formed between the bark and wood, portions of 
which become granular, prominent, and acquire length. These protrusions are 
roots, and with them the cutting becomes a plant; hence we infer that the 
root is the first vitahzed production of vegetable germs, and though a cutting be a 
portion of secondary development, it is only a mutilation, and nothing better, till 
some vitalised pre-organized germs be brought into action in the form of roots. 
The reader will perceive by the above attempted definition how much the mind 
labours in its endeavour to explain phenomena which are hidden in mystery ! 
What children we are ! talking of knowledge, and yet displaying our utter ignor- 
ance of causes and first principles ! Still we know enough with reverence 
to admire. 
The Root^ according to Lindleys Elements of Botany^ p. 10, differs anatomically 
from the stem, " in the absence of normal buds, and of stomates ; in exogens, 
of pith." 
We question the exclusive correctness of these theoretic assertions. It maybe 
true that in those species whose roots are utterly incapable of producing suckers, 
there may exist no normal^ that is, original or pre-organized germs, but in others, 
like the Rose, the Raspberry, Hazel-nut, Robinia pseudo-acacia, &c., which trace 
and wander extensively, protruding suckers in abundance, there must exist a system 
of buds, which contain the rudiments, at least, of perfect plants. It is known that 
if the cuticle of the Robinia root be wounded by a tool of any kind, a sucker will 
speedily be developed. Neuchateau, in his Treatise on the Acacia, established this 
fact years ago. — See Withers on the Acacia^ pages 78-9, particularly. 
The Elm is seen to intrude its suckers to an extent that becomes a perfect 
nuisance in orchards and garden grounds, bounded by a hedge-row of this tree. 
Thus we are apt to generalize by observing merely a few solitary facts. 
We enter into no detail of the varieties of roots ; referring to Smith's Intro- 
duction^ Dr. Lindley's Elements, &c. : it will suffice to show that all roots, whatever 
be their form, are the organs which connect the stem and foliage with the medium 
of nutriment adapted to each individual plant ; but it may be a question of some 
interest, whether every member above the soil has its own distinct system, or 
portion of radical fibres, or merely partakes in common with the general system. 
There exists no evidence to show that all plants, differing as they do in structure, 
character, and durability, can be governed by one common law. In the Vine we 
plainly perceive that numbers of fibrous roots decay and perish yearly ; in Ever- 
greens the fibrous system is extremely voluminous, and apparently permanent ; in 
bulbs the true roots are more strictly annual. 
In treesj the point of union between the ascending and descending stem, termed 
