GARDENING AS A SCIENCE. 
59 
" The new layer of wood which is added to the old stem or trunk ranges with 
the first layer of wood on the terminal shoots ; on the latter all primary buds, and 
consequently branches, originate." — " The pith, wood, buds, and bark (^f every 
shoot are all simultaneously produced," — and thus, as he observes, " The 
majestic oak, or the magnificent Banyan Fig, the latter shading acres of surface, 
all originate in an atom of a seed." 
The idea is sublime, and is in substance the counterpart of that suggested by 
Dr. Chalmers — for assuredly the microscope is calculated to reveal the wonders of 
creation more impressively than the telescope — infinite minuteness of parts, yet all 
perfect, as are the grandest developments of the forest ! 
While Mr. Main argues for the existence of a vital membrane (Indusium) 
which comprises all the future layers of alburnum and liber in corresponding pairs, 
and also all the atomic germs of future buds, we must dwell more particularly, 
now, upon the vital system of a plant as it emerges from the seed, it being our 
object to pave the way for future observations upon the scientific operations of 
horticulture. 
If it be granted that a seed contains the embryo of a plant, be that plant 
annual, biennial, perennial, herbaceous, shrub or tree, then we contend that in 
that seed all the vital organs which are requisite to the plant during the entire 
course of its existence are present ; nothing is or ever can be superadded to the 
structure, though we admit that every atomic organ requires stimuli and nutriment. 
In the application of these consists the skill of the gardener, and much insight, 
study, and observation are required at his hands. 
If our physiological view be correct, the seedling contains all the rudimental 
buds (^reorganized germs of Du Hamel) of its future processes, and in that case 
we begin to obtain a clue to the mysteries of those operations which have too long 
been performed empirically. 
One further remark is called for in reference to the wonderful provision of seed- 
leaves (cotyledons) : nature having thus provided a store of nutriment exactly 
suitable to the necessities of all the organs of vitality which the art of man is not 
qualified to supply. These seed-leaves, therefore, do not appear to be vital in the 
higher sense of the term : connected by living tissue with the organs of the plumule 
and radicle, their substance yields to the attraction which those organs exert ; it 
then becomes dry and effete. If those magazines of nutriment be injured or 
destroyed, the plant is quickly paralysed in proportion, or perishes ; hence great 
eare and circumspection are indicated ; and as there are predatory enemies always 
on the alert, and too minute to be easily detected, we are not to be surprised that 
an entire promising crop but too frequently perishes by the destruction of the seed- 
leaves in the course of a few hours. 
