28 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
question Mr. Wighton’s views, as being opposite to my own, with the single 
object of throwing as much light as possible upon a subject, the physiological 
bearing of which seems enshrouded in so much doubt and uncertainty. The 
inference I had arrived at was, that aerial roots, emitted more or less pro¬ 
fusely from any Vine, had a more or less injurious effect upon the plant— 
being, in fact, caused by a want of reciprocity between the roots, and the 
exterior or leaf surface. 
The able paper by Mr. Cox (p. 265), fully confirms all I have said, in a 
manner that I could not have hoped to attain to. Singularly enough, Mr. 
Wighton brings in the Bramble and the prop-like roots of the famed 
Banyan, wherewith “to prop up” the views to which he so staunchly 
adheres. I am prepared to assert that the least-ripened, most imperfectly 
developed wood—wood of recent formation, in fact—is that alone which 
freely and spontaneously emits or pushes forth roots—wood, to use Mr. 
Wighton’s own words, “ growing in the shade,” or “creeping amongst 
dank grass ;” and, further, to express my belief that an ill-ripened coating 
of bark of the previous season, whether upon young or old Vines, may even 
yet have something to do with these aerial roots. "Will any one say that 
ill-developed, sappy shoots are fitting illustrations of the well-ripened wood 
which gardeners delight to secure? “Hard as flints,” I have often heard 
more than one of the craft say, in contemplating a well-grown and well- 
ripened house of “ Vine wood ;” and flints are as likely to emit roots pro¬ 
fusely as are such rods, so ripened. To bring a few desultory examples, 
which may casually sprout forth in any house, to bear upon the subject, is, 
I take it, beside the argument, especially in view of such an example as that 
alluded to above, and other instances, which are many, where these roots 
are formed, to the great disfigurement of the house, and the concern of 
gardeners young in the practice. 
Digswell. William Earley. 
COX says, “ So far as my experience goes, and it has been 
obtained under widely differing circumstances of climate and soil, 
I am of opinion that one of the primary causes which induce the 
emission of roots from Vine stems is the inequality of temperature 
between the medium in which the roots and branches are placed.” 
Now, we all know that in a legally constituted court of justice the evidence 
of mere opinion, however skilfully handled by the pleader, cannot influence 
the decision of an intelligent judge and jury; they would, in the absence 
of facts, leave the case in statu quo. Unsupported opinion only amounts 
to a proofless persuasion or uncertain knowledge of a subject. It would, 
then, be madness for us to depend upon the fitful emotions of imagination. 
We cannot deduct from them, and were we to do so, the conclusions must 
