Reviews and Extracts. — Horticulture, 
163 
is easily shown, by growing’a plant in water, and alternately preventing the action 
of the spongioles, when languor and a cessation of vital action comes on; and [)re- 
venting the action of the general surface of the roots, leaving the spongioles at 
liberty, when the vital energies are immediately renewed. 
^‘Tliese spongioles are exceedingly delicate in their organization ; and a very 
slight degree of violence destroys them. It is scarcely possible to remove tlie soil 
frem the roots, without injuring them in some degree ; and if transplantation is ef¬ 
fected violently or carelessly, they are in a great measure destroyed. Wherever 
the roots are cut through, the new fibres which are emitted (pro\ided a plant is in 
perfect health,) in short tufts, and each terminated by a spongiole, are much more 
easily taken out of the ground without injury, than if they were longer, and more 
scattered among the soil. When destroyed, the spongioles are often speedily re¬ 
placed, particularly in orchard trees, provided a slight degree of growth continues 
to he maintained. This is one of the reasons wliy trees removed in October, 
succeed better than if transplanted at any other time. The growth of a tree at 
that season is not quite over; and the first impulse of nature, when the tree finds 
itself in a new situation, is to create new mouths by which to feed, wlien tlie 
season for growing again returns. Evaporation takes place in plants to an incon¬ 
ceivable degree, in certain circumstances. It is known by the experiments of Dr, 
Hales, that a Sun-flower plant will lose as much as lib l4oz. by perspiration, in 
twelve hours; and that in general, ‘in equal surfaces and equal times, a man 
would perspirethe plant or as 50 : 15;’ and that, taking all things 
into account, a Sun-flower perspires 17 times more than a man. The .same most 
accurate observer found that a Cabbage perspired in twelve hours, lib 9oz.; a 
Paradise Stock in a pot, 11 ounces; and a Lemon Plant, 8 oz, Guettard states 
that he found Cernus Mascula perspire twice its own weight in a day; and Mr. 
Knight has remarked a Vine in a hot day, losing moisture with such rapidity, that 
a glass placed under one of its leaves was speedily covered with dew, and in half 
an hour the perspiration was running off the glass. In damp or wet weather this 
evaporation is least; in hot dry weather, it is greatest. This loss has all to be 
supplied by the moisture introduced into the system by spongioles; and hence, if 
the spongioles are destroyed, and evaporation takes plaee before they can he 
replaced, a plant must necessarily die. This is the reason why deciduous trees 
cannot be transplanted when in leaf; it is impossible to remove them without in 
juring their spongioles, and it is equally impossible to hinder the evaporation by 
their leaves; but if they are kept in pots, it matters not at what season their 
removal fakes place, because, as their spongioles are then uninjured, even exces¬ 
sive evaporation would be made good by their action. It is well known that 
certain evergreens, such as Hollies, Laurels, &c., can he transplanted in almost 
all mouths ; this arises from their perspiration being much less copious than in 
deciduous trees ; wherefore the spongioles have less difficulty in supplying the loss 
occasioned by it; yet, even evergreens cannot be removed in the hottest months 
in the year, because then, the action of such spongioles as may be saved in the 
operation, would not be sufficient to supply the waste caused by evaporation.” 
From this most valuable introductory article, it will be seen that our state¬ 
ment was incorrect, w ith regard to Mr. Lindtet/'s Lecture, published in our 
first number; this Introduction appears to contain the very subject of those 
Lectures, We are not always able to confide on the accuracy of every state¬ 
ment that reaches us; but where any error docs appear, we shall always feel 
happy to correct it. 
The Work next commences with excellent descriptions of Apples, followed 
by Apricots, Cherries, &c. The descriptions are most accurately given, and 
