196 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
^Nature, that for the leaves to be in a healthy state, and the 
several organs of the plant properly developed, we must pre¬ 
serve the spongiole uninjured, by all possible means. It must, 
however, be borne in mind, that after a certain period has 
elapsed, the spongicles will form cuticles, at which time they 
cease to perform the necessary office. It is true many trees 
have been renovated after arriving at a certain age by pruning 
the roots, thus inciting them to make fresh spongioles closer 
to the stem, though I must practically affirm that root-pruning 
would not be beneficial in all cases. I have already shown, in 
my former paper, the derangement of the organs which takes 
place in the leaves of a plant after having been forced. This 
may be accounted for from the large quantity of fluid they are 
under the necessity of absorbing to keep pace with the tem¬ 
perature. 
A proper knowledge of the geographical distribution of 
plants would enable us to arrive at an acquaintance with the 
temperature to which they are subjected in a natural state, 
and their seasons of rest and excitement; for there is a time 
when all plants require rest, or may be said to be in an inactive 
state. Due attention to these laws would twofold repay us ; 
for nothing appears to me so important to the success of the 
accumulative system, more especially in reference to the supply 
of water. Another thing essential for the cultivators to be 
acquainted with is, the organisation of earths; for, be it recol¬ 
lected, before plants can receive their food it must first be 
decomposed. Thus, in watching the harmony of creation, we 
observe one plant decaying to supply nutriment to the other, 
from the gigantic oak down to the diminutive moss, all ream- 
lated by the wisdom of a benevolent Providence. Much evil 
arises from the sifting of soils; by this process the mould 
becomes compressed. By allowing the soil to partake of a 
rough texture, you admit the action of the atmosphere, which 
is favourable to the growth of plants, as may be seen by the 
spongiole clinging round the earth, where it comes in contact 
with the air. In removing the plant from a large to a small 
pot, the chief thing to be attended to is, to have your plant in 
as free a growing state as possible, due flexibility being the 
chaiactei is tic ol the tissues; for it is not reasonable to suppose 
that a plant of stunted growth will thrive so well as one in full 
