2G6 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
to enable us to colour tlie fruit of early forced Yines, the stem roots dry 
up and become inactive, because they have nothing to feed upon. 
I have often had occasion to observe that there is a wonderful analogy 
between many of the habits of plants and those of animals, and it is very 
observable in the present instance. Man is a feeding animal, but we should 
laugh at the idea of his finding comfort in a meal taken in the open air in 
a gale of wind; he rather seeks to satisfy his wants in a quiet and undis¬ 
turbed state of mind and body. Animals which prey on each other, drag their 
food to their haunts, or to some other retired place, and feed in quietude; the 
ruminating animals roam for food, but lie down to chew the cud, and enjoy 
it in peace, go likewise the stems of Yines, when placed in a heated, 
quiet, unventilated atmosphere, immediately set about feeding upon it, the 
stem roots being thrust out as the readiest means of doing so ; but send 
a brisk ventilation 'playing through them, keep all superabundant foliage 
picked off, and let in plenty of light, and the tendency to produce stem 
roots will be reduced to a minimum, so far as interior management is 
concerned. In early forcing, however, it is not possible, under existing 
sj^stems of ventilation, to keep up a constant agitation and change of 
atmosphere, when there are cutting winds abroad, and the outside tempe¬ 
rature is several degrees below freezing point; we must therefore put up with 
a close, quiet atmosphere sometimes for lengthened periods, and seek to 
remedy the evil (if indeed it be an evil), by striving to correct some of the 
other causes which are likely to induce stem roots to be thrown out. The 
principal of these, as already stated, is the inequality of temperature 
between the earth of the border and the interior atmosphere of the house. 
But this opens up another wide field of observation. 
Redlcaf . John Cox. 
I find that Mr. Earley has made some remarks (see p. 242), on my brief 
observations at p. 224, written in conformity with Mr. Cramb’s previous 
paper on the cause of roots on Yine stems. He differs from both of us, and 
leans to the theory that these abnormal roots are merely the substitutes that 
sickly Yines put forth, in place of the natural roots that have perished. 
Against this, he states that I “ affirm that strength and vigour may be the 
progenitors of these roots,” wdiereas my statement went no further than that 
“ weak Yines are less liable to do so than strong ones.” I now affirm that 
the large stems of old healthy Yines are most apt to produce roots, owing 
to their greater shade, and their rougher bark which holds damp longer than 
those of younger growth with smoother bark. In fact, there need be no 
doubt or mystery respecting the cause of such roots. One need not refer 
to the famed branch-rooting Banyan tree for an excellent example, when 
our common Bramble supplies one. In dull hot weather we may see plenty 
of “ air roots ” on healthy Bramble stems, in the shade, especially on those 
creeping amongst dank grass, while there are none where they are exposed 
to the light. But respecting Yines, Mr. E., to favour his opinion, says that 
“ aged Yines are not always vigorous at the root.” True ; but does not this 
apply equally to young ones ? He also remarks that “ Nature is no sloth ; 
we often mistake her way to an end.” If this means the beginning or cause 
of “ air roots,” I refer him again to the Bramble bush, whose roots may 
become ground ones, and so would those of the Yine in a wild state, thus 
forming a jungle or thicket like the Bramble. 
I now touch Mr. E.’s chief prop, which is that of there being “ air roots” 
