842 
MR. FISH’S REJOINDER TO THE EDITOR. 
see how you can escape the admission that the leaves are some of those 
organs referred to. What, then, becomes of your elegant definition ? 
To prevent mistakes, you had better have mentioned at once what organs 
you really meant. 
But we cannot pass over this sentence, as it is peculiarly rich in 
details. The sap is not only elaborated, but “ it becomes assimilated.” 
Let us understand each other. What is assimilation ? The changing 
of one thing into the substance of another ; the act of one thing becom¬ 
ing like something else. Then, what is the sap changed or assimilated 
to?—into cambium, liber, or alburnum? No, that is quite impos¬ 
sible ; but into the “ essential qualities.” And what are these quali¬ 
ties?—are they form, consistence, secretions, &c. ? No; all these are 
found in roots, upon which no zephyr breeze has ever played, and yet 
you state that all this elaboration and assimilation is effected “ by the 
action and influence of the atmosphere,” in conjunction with the doc¬ 
trine, that there is no regular descent of fluids. The conclusion of the 
sentence, “ that the sap is accelerated or retarded according as there are 
vents for its reception,” I agree with, as a great leading general proposi¬ 
tion. Ask me for indubitable proofs, and I will confess my inability 
to give them—nay, will start an objection. Cut down the branch or 
the whole of a vigorous-growing vine, when the leaves are fully ex¬ 
panded, and each and every of them “ inviting” up the sap from the 
roots, and no bleeding will take place. Why ? Because by taking 
away the vents for the sap, you have prevented its rising. Very well; 
but cut down a similar branch or vine just when the buds are expand¬ 
ing, and in this case you likewise take away the whole of those 
hydraulic pump-suckers, the action of which had brought the sap in 
motion, and nevertheless it rises vigorously, and flows copiously from 
the wound. How is this ? 
I fully agree with you, that what you term the providing and 
expending organs are naturally inclined to balance each other; but 
I do more—I contend that these organs have a direct relative and 
correlative influence. I admit that each part of a plant has an 
appropriating power, because I cannot otherwise account for the various 
secretions contained in them. I admit that the stock has an influence 
upon the scion, or why resort to paradoxes and queries ? But I also 
admit that the scion, though to a less degree, has also an influence upon 
the stock, by a regular circulation of the fluids. How else can I account 
for the phenomena, that a variegated shoot frequently starts from a 
stock that had been grafted with a variegated scion; or that in May- 
duke, Bigarreau, and Morelia Cherries, their roots should present such 
a contrast in appearance, though budded upon similar stocks—the two 
