452 ■ 
ON THE SEASONAL GROWTH OF PLANTS. 
indicated by the short-jointed, full-eyed, and brown hardy colour of 
the bark of the bearing wood. And that to mature this still more, a 
thorough check and complete stagnation of the fluids must be given, 
to prepare the tree by a season of rest for future exertion. On this 
principle the practice of wintering trees is founded, many believing 
that a good tight frost for a week or two is really of great good service 
to fruit trees which are occasionally forced. 
Checking luxuriance, either by a very low or a very high temperature, 
causes prolificacy. But this is a violence which should be seldom had 
recourse to ; for though it may cause the exhibition of the fructiferous, 
it will debilitate the growing principle. 
On the whole, it may be averred that in the cultivation of every 
seasonal plant, its climatal and constitutional propensities (if we may 
use the word) should be regarded. In the case of herbs, they are very 
much under our command : but trees are less tractable; and if in the 
open air, after the proper soil and situation are chosen for them, and 
receive annual regulation from the pruner, they must be consigned to 
all the vicissitudes of weather, whether adverse or favourable. 
In our forcing departments we have gained great power over exotic 
plants, imposing on them new laws directly contrary to the law of 
nature, to which they are in their native countries subject. We can 
almost reverse their seasonal nature, and make them so completely the 
children of art, that we cause them to yield their flowers and fruit at 
any and every season as best suits our purposes. This is a great con¬ 
quest, which enables us to enjoy the finest fruits and flow r ers of 
warmer countries, even when our own fields and gardens are covered 
with snow. 
In alluding to evergrowing plants, we omitted to notice the orange 
and the fig. Although neither of these can be said to bear this cha¬ 
racter in their native climes, yet they both show a continuity of action 
very different from the real seasonal plants. The first requires nearly 
two years, or at least two summers, to ripen its fruit; and the second 
requires an autumn and a spring to ripen its first, and a whole summer 
and autumn to ripen its second crop. There is, therefore, no dis¬ 
ruption between the trees and their fruits during the intervening 
winters; and we may fairly presume that there is no positive stag¬ 
nation of the sap to effect a separation of the swelling fruit from the 
branches. The winter development may be slow, but still, as there is 
a continued connexion, the phenomena may be considered as an instance 
of unceasing vegetative action. 
Orange and lemon trees are called in this country half hardy plants, 
only requiring to be defended from severe frost; but whether cultivated 
