Wherever the infinity of variation produces a de- 
ficiency of one part in a plant, we always find such 
deficiency, or, we should rather say, diversity of 
arrangement, beautifully equalized or compensated 
by a new arrangement of action in another. ‘No- 
thing, says. Dr. Lindley, (Botanical Register, 41, 
1841) in the vegetable Kingdom is more curious 
than the way in which plants are enabled to alter 
one organ so as to perform the office of another, 
when that other is from any cause destroyed or 
undeveloped. Thus, in cactaceous and other suc- 
culent plants which have no leaves, the surface of 
the stem is greatly enlarged, and performs the office 
of breathing and digesting; in the Combretum, 
which has no tendrils to climb with, the stalks of 
the leaves hook back, and furnish the plant with 
claws of strength; when, in the Wattle trees of our 
Australian colonies, nature refuses to command 
the appearance of leaves, straightway the leaf- 
stalks flatten and expand, and take their place; and 
so of multitudes of others. 
Dirca palustris is a native of marshy woods in 
various parts of North America; and it is said that 
the partiality of snails for the young plants pre- 
vents it from being more generally distributed over 
our shrubberies. It is deciduous, therefore in 
planting, due regard should be paid to its being 
suitably backed by a dark evergreen, which will 
assist in giving its pale tints effect in spring. It 
may be slowly increased by layers, which will 
require two years in rooting. Its soil should be 
peat and loam; or, if a moist situation can be 
allotted it, sandy peat alone. 
Hovt. Kew. 2. v. 2, 411. 
