form a leaf. Now, admitting my average statement of 48 divisions forming the whole number of a collet, such a number would be disposed of in forming the first 8 leaves; because the 6 divisions, multiplied by the 8 leaves, would be equal to the 48: consequently, reasoning from the above conclusions, a shoot could not extend in length beyond 8 leaves. There is another fact, which is well known to every gardener, that a summer shoot of a vine will extend 10, 20, and 30 ft. in length, and produce at least 2 leaves on every foot of its growth.

These are certainly three very conflicting circumstances, as far as relates to those facts; but how easily are these apparent inconsistencies removed, when we further investigate the beautiful arrangement on the outside of the divisions of a joint, and discover that some of the remaining divisions are paradoxically divided into two parts; and that each of them should become in size equal to the original one from which they proceeded, for the purpose of replacing those which had been appropriated to form the leaf! These subdivisions may be readily understood by referring to fig. 23., and tracing from the bottom the 9th, 11th, and 16th bundles, upwards to the joint; where it represents those three bundles of vascular texture, each dividing into two parts, forming, in the upper collet, the 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 16th, and 17th divisions, being the additional number of three divisions; and three others would be formed, in like manner, on the opposite side of the joint. So that, although 6 divisions were taken away from the lower collet, others are subdivided to make up that deficiency which otherwise would take place in the upper collet; and a similar operation takes place at every joint.

How two halves should, in every respect, be equal in size to the original division from which they proceeded, and contain a similar number of vessels, each consisting of medulla, spiral vessels, alburnum including its vessels, liber, vascular and cellular texture, may be considered another of those wonderful and secret works of nature which it is beyond my abilities to explain: I shall, therefore, only proceed to describe the further supposed subdivisions that may take place in an extended shoot of a vine, forming a nominal calculation upon one of 20 ft. long. We will suppose, on every 4 ft. in length, that 8 leaves shall be growing: consequently, those leaves will require the 48 divisions of a collet, as before mentioned. As we proceed, we will make a slight sketch (fig. 28.) of our progress, for it will facilitate the calculation.

The 9th division in fig. 23. shall be the one selected; and it shall be a in the sketch.

20 ft. high.

a, then, is the supposed division, during its growth in the shoot from a to c, the first 4 ft.: it is divided at b into two parts; consequently, at c, it has only half its original vessels of a.

At d it is again divided; so that, at e, it has only one fourth of its original part of a, and the shoot is extended 8 ft. long.

At fit is further divided; and, at g, it can only have one eighth of the original parts of a, and the 16 ft. high. shoot is extended 12 ft. long.

At h it is also divided; and, at i, it can only have one sixteenth of the original parts of a, and the shoot is extended 16 ft. long.

At k the last division takes

12 ft. high. place; and, at l, it can only have one thirty-second of the original parts of a, and the shoot is extended 20 ft. long.

8 ft. high.

4 ft. high.

Yet this small portion of the thirty-second part of a is sufficient to form an entire division, equal in size to the original from which it first proceeded.

Now, admitting such calculation to be tolerably correct, this thirtysecond part must be connected with the vessels of the five leaves below, at m n o p q; and, in addition, this upper leaf marked ≈ has five other such subdivisions, to which it is, in like manner, united. Therefore, to find the number of leaves laterally connected with this upper leaf, we must multiply these five leaves below m n o p q by the 6 divisions of the leaf z, which will give 30; so that the upper leaf will be actually united with 30 leaves by this beautiful and paradoxical operation of Nature.

b

a

I have many times reckoned the divisions of the collets of a long summer shoot, and I have found, invariably, a differ

ence in number at every joint: sometimes an increase, at others a diminution; but, upon the whole, the number of divisions at the top corresponded nearly with those at the lower end, although the shoot was of considerable length.

I flatter myself that many will repeat these experiments. Should any one have the patience to examine and dissect the whole of the bundles of a summer shoot of a vine, I should esteem the communication of it, either to Mr. Loudon or myself, with a drawing, a particular favour; but, I can assure him, it is a labyrinth only to be discovered by one of great patience and perseverance. I have many times attempted the task without success: as far as I went, I could clearly perceive the system was extremely regular, and that every bundle had its particular place of destination. The middle of July is the best time to make the experiment, when the bundles of vascular texture are firmly attached; but, a month later, they lose a little of their vital action.

The

The use of the vessels of the vascular texture of the bark is to convey part of the descending sap, or secreted juice, downwards, during the summer. My endeavours have not been so successful as I could have wished, in filling these vessels with a black precipitate, similar to my experiments in p. 24., by the sulphate of iron. It is fortunately, however, of little consequence, as these vessels in some other plants are filled with a milky fluid, which arises in the leaf, and descends by similar vessels. It requires some little management to retain this fluid in the branch, when it is detached from the parent tree, during the time of removing the cuticle and cellular texture while you lay bare these bundles of the vascular texture. plant I should recommend for that purpose is commonly called the caper shrub (Euphorbia Láthyris): it is found in most gardens; the seeds of it are about the size of caper buds, the stem is of a tolerably hard substance, and these vessels in it are firm, and readily discovered. Choose for the experiment, in the autumn, the lower part of a summer shoot of a two years old plant: tie a collet tightly round, with some thick cotton thread; then cut it off below the bandage, when you will find very little discharge from the upper separated parts, owing to the ligature upon them; but the lower remaining stem will bleed profusely. These vessels, by the above precaution, will be tolerably well under your control while you try any experiment upon them. The moment that one is punctured, it discharges immediately its milky fluid: they must be separately cut, to empty them, which shows they have no communication with each other. These vessels of the vine commence at the lower end of the

ing downwards, as I said before, the descending sap of the leaf. I could enlarge further on the important use of these vessels, but I beg to defer it until I have described other vessels, into which, I apprehend, they convey their contents; and I will endeavour to have it prepared for your June Number.

For

Innumerable are the experiments that may be performed on a vine, by those who have an active mind, and a knowledge of the vessels as set forth in p. 16. and 17. of this Volume, with the assistance of the chemical tests; and to the young anatomist of vegetation I will apply the same words as those which have so often been repeated by the able anatomists of the human frame: "That it is only by dissection a thorough knowledge can be acquired." What I can describe by words or drawings will ever fall short of the sublime and beautiful organisation of the different parts of a vine. instance (to simplify the subject), fig. 23. is drawn, showing only the 9th, 11th, and 16th bundles of the vascular texture, tamely branching off, each into two divisions; but, in the original, the diversity of the separation and reunion of some divisions of the joint can only be compared to the tracery or open work of the upper part of a Gothic church window; and the divisions from a bundle, to the beautiful groining of the arches of that style. I would recommend not only the admirers of this science, but those of the Gothic style of architecture, to dissect a joint: they will be highly gratified by the elegant display of these bundles at the joint, before they take their perpendicular direction into the upper collet.

I purpose, in the autumn, to point out some interesting experiments respecting the formation of the second year's liber; but it will require a previous preparation of the vine to perform them well. Those who are disposed to investigate the subject should train some of the last summer's shoots, at least 15 in. apart, and nail the extending shoots of this year in a regular open manner, stopping them at the 10th or 12th leaf, or 4 leaves above the fruit. But the part to which most attention should be paid is at the base of the shoot, where the remains of the winter cradle is to be found, as shown in fig. 1. between the letters b and d. This rough part I wish to be displaced by the fingers; and, should any buds arise, these are to be removed without bruising the cuticle; and frequently, during the summer, the place is to be rubbed gently with the fingers, to keep it clean and smooth.

Bath, Feb. 7. 1830.

I remain, Sir, yours, &c.

WALTER WILLIAM CAPPER.

I observe some of the letters of the figures belonging to

my former communication are misplaced; but the following alteration with a pen will correct them:

Fig. 3. The upper letter f, above z, should be g; the second g, above z, should be f; the first a, above z, should be f; the letter a, below z, should be placed just above z, to point out the spiral vessels; the letter s, near the bottom, should be struck out. Fig. 4. The two letters m m should be changed into ll; and the two letters il into m m.

ART. II. On Cottage Husbandry and Architecture, chiefly with reference to certain Prize Essays received on Cottage Gardening, and to projected Encyclopædias on these subjects. By the Cox

DUCTOR.

NINE prize essays have been received, to three of which, instead of one, as promised (Gard. Mag., vol. v. p. 713.), we have awarded the first prize (a copy of the Encyclopædia of Plants, and a copy of the Hortus Británnicus), and they are published in the three articles succeeding to the present. To each of the remaining six essays we have awarded the second premium, a copy of the Hortus Britannicus), and from them we have published extracts, in the form of notes, to different parts of the essay immediately following the present article. This essay, by " A Practical Gardener," we know to be writ ten by an Englishman, a chemist, a general reader, and an excellent practical gardener; he has a family, and has for several years been head gardener at an extensive residence in the west of England, and kept a cow and pigs. This The third essay may be considered as particularly adapted for England. essay, by "The Cottarman's Friend," is by a Scotchman, a scientific and experienced gardener, farmer, and general manager of an estate in Perthshire; it is excellent, and may be considered as particularly adapted for Scotland. "J. P.," the author of the second essay, is a stranger of whom we know nothing further than that his essay is exceedingly well drawn up, and altogether worthy of the first prize. It contains an excellent calendar, and tables, and may be considered as a manual of culture, both for the cottage labourer, and the independent cottager. Some of the authors of the other essays we know, or think we know, from their handwriting, and others we do not know. The most scientific of these essays is by " T. A. ;" but his calculations are founded on the very best crops, and therefore impracticable. They are all written with the best feeling, and there is not one of them that would not have been worth publishing under ordinary circumstances.

The present introductory essay is to be considered as supplementary to the three which follow, and chiefly as an attempt to show the practicability of every cottager growing his own fuel. We have also shown how independent or proprietor cottagers may grow their own malt, hops, sugar, cider, perry, wines, spirit, tobacco, substitutes for tea and coffee, opium, We have added a plan of a labourer's cottage, and other medicines. chiefly with a view of showing the mode of heating and cooking by the description of fuel (faggot-wood), which we recommend to be grown. (We might have also given a plan for an association of dwellings to be heated by steam, as a substitute for detached cottages, in manufacturing towns.) All the subjects touched on in the three following essays, with several