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TERMS USED IN DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 
knowledge of its various processes, and how far these may be assisted, 
moderated, or checked constitutes thewholb art and mystery of garden- 
ing ; indeed, as every plant becomes a new being from the instant it is 
taken in charge of the cultivator, it behoves him not only to know how 
to encourage and engross his plants by adding rich nourishment to the 
roots, and allowing due degrees of air, light, and heat to the head; but 
he must also know how to counteract the natural tendencies of his 
trees especially, so as to make them answer the purpose of their cul¬ 
ture in the best manner, and in the shortest time. This knowledge 
may certainly be gained by experience, and by the advice of a practical 
master ; but the tyro will do well to add to this the study of vegetable 
physiology, by direct observation and experiment, taking nothing for 
granted, but what will admit of practical proof (or as near an approach 
to it as can possibly be had) : this will shield him from all fanciful 
dictation, or imaginary notions on the subject.— Ed. 
Notices of certain Terms used in Descriptive Botany. By 
A. W.—In every department of human knowledge there are certain 
conventional terms which are used by scientific writers which are not 
always, or readily, understood by many readers into whose hands the 
Horticultural Register may fall. For the sake of such readers, I have 
proposed to myself to give a short list of the scientific terms applied to 
the principal members of a plant, and which are in most frequent use, 
hoping they may be of some service to your younger readers. In 
following out this idea I shall commence with the 
Radix, the root, which is that part of the stem or axis of the plant 
which descends into the ground, or into any other substance or body 
on which the plant may grow. In some cases roots are exserted into 
moist air, whence they absorb the requisite nourishment. The divisions 
of the root are designated 
Radiculje, and are those parts of the main root which proceed 
laterally from the principal. These are again subdivided into what 
are called 
Fibrillje, or fibres, which are the most attenuated and active parts 
of the root, their points being called spongioles. 
If the part immediately beneath the surface is very much enlarged, 
or swollen, it is called 
Tuber. These are various in shape, as the spindle-shaped, the 
spherical, the turbinated, &c. 
Between the root and the stem there is a point which may be called 
the base of the stem, and consequently is the crown of the root. This, 
by some writers, is called 
