Chap. I.] BY THE SURFACE OF THE ROOTS. 
37 
rich in the supply of water directly as the num¬ 
ber and size of its branches. 
This streaming of the stem may be observed 
in all trees, but differing in quantity as infinitely 
as the direction of the growth of their branches 
and twigs may differ. It is most remarkable 
and most profuse in Lombardy poplars. To 
this day they may be seen deluged in tears for 
the fate of their rash and hapless brother: 
“ Quam platanus vino tam gaudet populus unda.”* 
But how, by Roget’s and the received system, 
shall these slim sisters of Phaeton drink their 
own tears ? Their capillary stomata (since the 
jargon of science will mingle “ verbis Grseca La- 
tinis ”) are at the distance of the vertical height 
of the trees from their stems, instead of the hori¬ 
zontal width of the branches. This maybe seen 
from suckers. And how is the poor oak to enjoy 
the drip from his own wide-spread branches, 
when its single capillary stoma is buried, per- 
* In reference to Ovid’s physiology of the plane, Macro- 
bius writes: “ Is Hortensius platanos suas vino irrigare 
consuevit: adeo ut in actione quadam, quam habuit cum 
Cicerone susceptam, precario a Tullio postulasset, ut locum 
dicendi permutaret secum : abire enim in villam necessario 
se velle, ut vinum platano, quam in Tusculano posuerat, ipse 
suffunderet.” 
d 3 
