Reviews and E.iiracls. — llorticulltirc, ^c. 161 
quence of the action of the winds upon ihuni, which is known to facilitate the 
iiioveineiits of the fluids, is loliilly destroyed; and hence arises the accumulation 
of proper juice, which is iiecesary to their fertility, 
"Nor is the infivence nf the stock, of an essentially different nature. In pro- 
portion as the scion and the slock approach eacii other closely in constitution, the 
less eflxict is produced by the latter ; and ou the contrary, in proportion to the 
constitutional difference between the stock and the scion, is tiie effect of the for- 
nier important. 
"If we consider upon what principle the /lat'onr of pnrfirulnr fruits may he im- 
proved, we shall find that it is entirely due to the increased action of the vital 
functions of leaves. VVhen the sap is first comnuinicated by the stem to the leaves, 
it has experienced but few chemical changes, since it first entered the roots. As 
soon, however, as it enters the leaves, it becomes altered in a variety of ways, by 
the combined action of air, light, and evaj>ovalion ; for which purposes the leaf is 
admirably adapted by its anatomical structure. Thus altered in the leaves, it 
ceases to be what we call sap, but becoues the proper juice; or, in other words, 
acquires the peculiar character of the final secretions of the individual for which it 
is formed. Discharged by the leaves into the bark, it is thence conveyed by myri- 
ads of channels of cellular substance, throughout the whole system. From these 
secretions, of whatever nature they may be, the fruit has the power of attracting- 
such portions as are necessary for its maturation. Hence it follows, that the more 
we can increase the peculiar secretions of the plant, the higher will become the 
quality of the fruit; and that, on the other band, the less the plant is in condition 
to form those secretions, the less will Le the quality of the fruit. 
"The next subject of consideration, is, the mode of multiplying improved varie- 
ties of fruit, so as to continue the progeny, exactly the same qualities as existed 
in the parent. Unless we have the power of doing this readily, the advantages of 
procuring- improved varieties, would be very much circumscribed, and the art of 
Horticulture, in this respect, would be one of the greatest uncertainties. The usual 
mode of increasing plants, — that mode which has been more especially provided 
by nature, — is by seeds ; but while seeds increase the species without error, the 
peculiarities of varieties, can rarely be perpetuated in the same manner. A plant 
is, really, an animated body, composed of an infinite multitude of systems of life; 
all, indeed, united into a whole, but each having- an independent existence, 
These systems of life, are buds, each having a power of emitting- descending fibres, 
in the form of roots, and also of ascending, in the form of stem. The first of these 
buds is the embryo ; the o'hers are subsequently formed f:n the stem, emitted by 
the embryo. 
^^Propagation is effected by the tiriso^ increasing by eyes, striking from cuttingr, 
laying, budding, and grafting. 
"Increasing by eye.', is the simplest of all these methods : it consists in nothing 
but extracting a single system of life, or a bud, from a given plant, placing it in 
due heat and moisture, and surrounding it with fitting food, and thus causing it to 
grow as a solitary individual, instead of as one of the community to which it origi- 
nally belonged. 
" Striking from cuttingr, is a sliglit modification of the last method. Instead of 
iaking a single bud, astern, containing two, three, or more buds, is placed in cir- 
cumstances fitted for the maintenaiKe of its life. In this case, the i liances of success 
are increased by the additional number of buds which are the subject ot experiment. 
"Laying, is nothing but striking from cuttings, that are still allowed to maintain 
their connexion with the mother plant, by means of a portion, at least, of their 
stem." 
Vol. I, No. 4. X 
