ON THE FOOD OF PLANTS. 25 



But the most astonishing effect produced by giving free Astonishing . 



admission of air to the roots of wheat was last year ex „ affect of admit- 



' ttngairtothe 



hibited by Mr. Bartley, secretary to the society of Arts at roots of wheat- 

 Bath. In August 1800 he sowed his wheat in, rows with 

 three feet intervals, and six inches distance from grain to 

 grain. The proportion of seed was two quarts to au acre. 

 The soil was a deep sandy loam, but out of condition, and 

 filled with couch. This wheat was hoed in autumn, hoed 

 again, and earthed up both at Christmas and spring. When 

 it was in bloom the intervals were dug up, and it was once 

 more earthed up. At harvest this crop yielded sixty-six 

 bushels per acre. Such was its luxuriancy, many of i\\c-. 

 plants produced 98 perfect ears, many of which, nine 

 inches long, contained each 1,00 grains. 



In the broad-cast husbandry of the hill counties of Wilts 

 and Hants, the produce was formerly three or at most four 

 for one, as it was in the greatest part of France. By the 

 drill, without hoeing, the return would not be near so 

 much ; but in Mr. Bartley's crop we see more than 1000 for 

 1 ; and some grains yielded nearly ten times as much*. 



I shall make but one observation more upon this subject, Orchards, 

 which is, that an orchard planted on the green sward requires 

 double the time for its maturity as one on cultivated land, 

 that has a more plentiful supply of air admitted to its roots. 



Thus we see that all the great agents in nature are con- Conclusion, 

 cerned in the process of vegetation, and may be considered, 

 as the food of plants. But to determine in what manner 

 each contributes to nutrition, must be left to the investiga- 

 tion of succeding generations. 



* It must ever be with reluctance, that an exception can be taken 

 against any argument of so able a writer as the present, especially in a 

 matter of alleged fact. But in this instance it seems^ proper to remark, 

 that the argument drawn from the reported success of Mr. Bartley should 

 be received with caution, on account of the peculiarity of, the soil. That 

 soil being remarkably deep, fat, and productive, and within the limits of 

 a nursery-man's garden, near a city abounding with manure, arc circum- 

 stances not common to other situations. Consequently the result of any 

 experiments made in such a spot is not to be considered as applicable to 

 the general practice of agriculture and planting, on a large and common 

 scale of cultivation. With the necessary allowances which the local ad- 

 vantage above-mentioned suggests, the consequences drawn by this gen- 

 tleman may still be of importance for the consideration of our practical 

 readers. EDITOR. 



