108 
UPWARD GROWTH OF THE HEAD, AND [Part II. 
soil, and any tree planted at the top, you pos¬ 
sibly might necessitate the growth of a main root 
of a hundred feet long vertically downward; and 
probably, were a tree planted below, a main root 
of the same length might be grown vertically 
upward: though, after the first year’s growth, 
not one single inch might have the organisation 
proper to tap-roots. On the other hand, I think 
that, were a tree planted on a draw-well filled 
with soil, the vertical root would soon cease 
on account of the want of atmospheric influence. 
Were some violent tap-rootist to try this experi¬ 
ment, his descendants might supply the dock¬ 
yards with a pctf-oak, which, if drawn by the 
hydraulic press, and its radical or tartarean 
growth added to its vertical or aethereal growth, 
would double its proper measurement. Indeed, 
I marvel why tap-rootists do not pluck all their 
oaks like radishes or carrots, instead of, according 
to their doctrine, cutting them exactly in twain 
and leaving their lower halves to rot in the 
earth. But let any one in any soil dig a trench 
six feet deep close round an oak; he will soon 
give up the idea of a tap-root. 
Magnis componere parva , in the beginning of 
April, 1846, I planted a horse-chestnut on a 
column of earth about 7 ft. high, formed by 
