108 
FLORICULTURAL (ECONOMICS. 
its junction with the twig, the sap-vessels passing from the central part of the 
latter, w^hile the returning vessels enter into the bark of the twig. In the Elder, 
five sets of returning vessels, that is, one for each leaflet, are discernible in the 
bark of the foot-stalk, and thence they pass into the bark of the twig and stem. 
Whatever may be conjectured concerning a kind of circulation of the vegetable 
fluids, a phenomenon stoutly denied by many, certain we are, that there are vessels 
which connect the leaves with the plant, and that they ramify in proportion to the 
figure, simple or compound, of the leaf. When we come to consider the functions 
of the several organs, more will be said to throw some feeble light upon a structure 
which involves the greatest difficulties, and which will become still more apparent 
when it is seen that all our means and methods of observation are antagonist to 
the natural processes of vegetable life. 
Note. — The reader is requested to substitute the words " a Creation " for " an expansion " 
at line 13, p. 84, of the last article. 
FLORICULTURAL (ECONOMICS. 
Having largely discussed questions of gardening economy in our last volume, 
J i might be expected that w^e should now leave our readers again undisturbed on 
such matters. But the topic is one of such extreme amplitude, and so prolific in 
details which aff'ect the interests of all concerned in Floriculture, however humble 
may be their patronage of the art, that we consider it necessary to revive it in our 
pages, and present it in various fresh points of view, or at least, with reference to 
different operations and practices. 
The ordinary and amazingly lavish waste of manure in most establishments 
may seem to be a question that more concerns the agriculturist or the kitchen- 
gardener than the grower of flowers. An extravagant construction of the well- 
known truth, that superfluous manuring tends to the production of exuberant 
branches and foliage rather than blossoms, has led many into the belief that 
manure is of itself, in a general way, inimical to the highest ends of Floriculture ; 
and while the florist, or cultivator of those flowers which have been immensely 
improved by judicious hybridization, perceives the necessity for using manure 
liberally, in order to maintain the elevated characters he has elicited ; the more 
extensive grower of tender exotics often yet continues to discard manure from his 
compost, under the vague impression that it exerts a bad influence on flowering 
propensities. 
Since, howevery it is clear that the florist could alone carry on his great 
improvements, or even perpetuate those he has already obtained, by the free use of 
manuring substances ; and since the growers of those splendid objects which so 
enchant us at our great floricultural exhibitions, are equally generous to the 
majority of the plants under their charge, in reference to some kind of manure ; 
