12 
Mr. Newman, well known as the author of an excellent work 
on British Ferns, and given in an interesting periodical — the 
Phytologist. Mr. Newman’s article is given under the title 
with which we commenced. He says, “Although so much has 
been written on the subject of gases evolved and absorbed by 
plants; on the form and functions of the stomata or mouths of 
plants; and on the obvious numerical preponderance of the 
stomata in the leaves and branches over those in the roots; yet 
the broad assertion that the office of the earth in relation to 
plants is precisely erpiivalent to its office in relation to animals 
— namely, to maintain them in the position best suited to their 
well being — has, I believe, never yet been made in print. 
Almost as long ago as I can recollect, this phytological fact 
was impressed forcibly on my mind by seeing how beautifully 
hyacinths blossom with their roots immersed in water and with- 
out a particle of earth that they could possibly reach. I have 
constantly asserted my belief on this point, but have always 
been laughed at as a visionary and theorist. It is, however, 
with infinite satisfaction that I see my views slowly gaining 
ground. Each succeeding year diminishes the number of those 
who assert tliat plants feed on the earth as we feed on meat and 
bread and potatoes: still, by far the larger portion of convers- 
ing mankind religiously believe this, and most of our farmers 
look on a rich soil as being as directly food for their wheat, as 
a sack of barley meal is food for their pigs. Now the truth is 
the very converse of this: the earth feeds on plants — is increas- 
ed by plants — owes what is called its richness and good pro- 
perties to plants. These facts are not only interesting in 
themselves, but the ends to which they are applicable would 
furnish almost a new era in existence. It can scarcely be 
doubted that nature has provided, in the earth, the best possible 
receptacle for the roots of plants; yet even this position will 
admit of considerable modification, for we have first to consider 
whether our object in cultivation is to carry out the designs of 
nature, or to make nature subserve our artificial requirings; if 
the latter, it is quite certain that art can be advantageously 
applied : we have but to call to mind our commonest fruits and 
vegetables as examples. Thus, although plants may best 
achieve their destined ends when rooted in the earth, it may 
reasonably be doubted whether in turning their good properties 
