f 8[Symbol: 8 turned 90 deg.], but when
more completely combined they have an outline of a very elongated figure,
and something similar is to be expected in herbaceous stems. Even the
elongated pith of a transversely cut, woody, fasciated stem only marks
the intimate union of several branches, and Prof. Hincks, whose views
the writer entirely shares, has noticed instances of the union of two,
and of only two, stems where the internal appearance was the same as in
other fasciations.

Moquin, moreover, raises the objection that it is unlikely that several
branches should become united lengthwise in one plane only, and,
further, that in the greater number of fasciations all the other
branches which should be present are to be found--not one is wanting,
not one has disappeared, as might have been anticipated had fusion taken
place. In raising this objection, Moquin seems not sufficiently to have
considered the circumstance that the buds in these cases are in one
plane from the first, and are all about equal in point of age and size.

The last objection that Moquin raises to the opinion that fasciation is
the result of a grafting process is, that in such a case, examples
should be found wherein the branches are incompletely fused, and where
on a transverse section traces of the medullary canals belonging to each
branch should be visible. The arrangement of leaves or buds on the
surface should also in such a case indicate a fusion of several spiral
cycles or whorls. To this it may be replied that such cases are met with
very frequently indeed. A figure is given by De Candolle[15] of a stem
of _Spartium junceum_ having several branches only imperfectly
fasciated.

Fasciated stems, then, seem to be best explained, as is stated by Prof.
Hincks, "on the principle of adhesion arising in cases where from
superabundant nourishment, especially if accompanied by some check or
injury, numerous buds have been produced in close proximity, and the
supposition that these growths are produced by the dilatation of a
single stem is founded on a false analogy between fasciated stems and
certain other anomalous growths."

It will not, of course, be forgotten that this fasciated condition
occurs so frequently in some plants as almost to constitute their
natural state, _e.g._ _Sedum cristatum_, _Celosia_, &c. This condition
may be induced by the art of the gardener--"_Fit idem arte, si plures
caules enascentes cogantur penetrare coarctatum sp