Volume II Part 11 (2/2)

[39] Moreover, the confusion between vertical and horizontal sections in pp. 46, 47, is completed by the misprint of vertical for horizontal in the third line of p. 43, and of horizontal for vertical in the fifth line from bottom of p. 46; while Figure 45 is to me totally unintelligible, this being, as far as can be made out by the lettering, a section of a tree stem which has its marrow on the outside!

[40] ”Try a bit of rhubarb” (says A, who sends me a pretty drawing of rhubarb pith); but as rhubarb does not grow into wood, inapplicable to our present subject; and if we descend to annual plants, rush pith is the thing to be examined.

[41] I am too lazy now to translate, and shall trust to the chance of some remnant, among my readers, of cla.s.sical study, even in modern England.

[42] '_Or_ woody tissue,' suggests A. It is 'and' in Balfour.

[43] Terms not used now, but others quite as bad: Cuticle, Epidermis, Cortical layer, Periderm, Cambium, Ph.e.l.loderm--six hard words for 'BARK,'

says my careful annotator. ”Yes; and these new six to be changed for six newer ones next year, no doubt.”

[44] ”At first the vessels are pervious and full of _fluid_, but by degrees thickening layers are deposited, which contract their ca.n.a.l.”--BALFOUR.

[45] I cannot better this earlier statement, which in beginning 'Proserpina,' I intended to form a part of that work; but, as readers already in possession of it in the original form, ought not to be burdened with its repet.i.tion, I shall republish those chapters as a supplement, which I trust may be soon issued.

[46] ”'Diachyma' is parenchyma in the middle of a leaf!” (Balfour, Art.

137.) Henceforward, if I ever make botanical quotations, I shall always call parenchyma, By-tis; prosenchyma, To-tis; and diachyma, Through-tis, short for By-tissue, To-tissue, and Through-tissue--then the student will see what all this modern wisdom comes to!

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