Illustrations of vegetable physiology, practically applied to the cultivation of the garden, the field and the forest. Consisting of original observations, collected during an experience of fifty years / [James Main].

  • Main, James.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Illustrations of vegetable physiology, practically applied to the cultivation of the garden, the field and the forest. Consisting of original observations, collected during an experience of fifty years / [James Main]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    transferred to the branches, a circumstance so con- spicuously exemplified in the Cedrus Libiini. The multifidous growth of the aged tree is constitutional; the irregularities observable in young subjects are accidental, caused by highly favouring circumstances of soil, situation, or seasons, and sometimes by wounds received from birds, squirrels, or insects. The next order to be noticed is the Amentacece. It is divided into five sub-orders, which contain a majority of our hardy forest trees. The grand dis- tinction is the separate station and form of the male tlowers commonly called catkins, or botanically Amen- tum : hence the title of the order. The greater number of plants arranged here are very differently constituted to the pines and firs which have just been under review. We have ob- served that, among those, buds, or vital gems, are partially and pretty regularly disposed over the exterior of the plant; but on these the whole axis or body of the wood is enveloped in a cloak of vitality, impregnated, as it were, with latent buds in every part, viz. roots, stem, and branches. This is obviously certain as respects the Sulix, Pbpulus, Corylus and others; because every part or portion of these members can eject both roots and shoots in any situation and in any number, if surrounding circumstances be favourable. Hence the facility with which they are propagated, and the safety with which they may be cut over, pollarded, and trained for any purpose of fencing or the like.