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not only capable of obtaining it for their own use, but are the agents 

 for storing in the soil nitrogen which is valuable as plant food for 

 other trees. The "Bois Immortel" is a Leguminous plant and it pro- 

 bably provides the Cacao growing beneath its shade with a store of 

 nitrogen necessary for vigorous growth, which it could not obtain 

 from any other source, so that if the theory of the immortel supplying 

 moisture to the roots of the tree be proved to be without foundation 

 — as without the slightest doubt it easily can — there is left the fact 

 that the " Bois Immortel" is still the " Madre de Cacao" from ita 

 preparing and storing for its use an abundant supply of nitrogen. 



While there are plants, however, which prepare food for others, 

 there are also those which steal from others. 



Who has not Avitnessed the lamentable failure which usually 

 occurs where attempts at flower or vegetable gardening, are made 

 beneath the shade and within the reach of the roots of large trees. A 

 row of croton {Codiaeums) in tubs were once placed along side a walk 

 under the partial shade of an avenue of trees. One, who thought he 

 knew, said, they would do much better if planted out. Large holes 

 were dug, a plentiful supply of manure furnished, and the plants were 

 placed in the ground. The first few months all went well, but it was 

 soon apparent that the operator had calculated without his host, for it 

 could be seen that the plants began to suffer, and on examination it 

 was found that the nice new soil and manure placed in the croton 

 holes had been taken possession of by the roots of the large trees and 

 had actually become a matted mass — to the exclusion of the tender 

 and more delicate roots of the croton, thus practically starving or 

 murdering the latter. 



Again the cultivator must not rest content with keeping from 

 beneath the shade of large trees, for the roots of such trees are always 

 on the look out for, and seemingly have the power to find, any store of 

 nutriment which may be placed within reasonable distances. It is 

 surprising sometimes to find to what a distance such roots will go in 

 search of suitable food, and the cultivator who sees the small plants 

 in his little garden dwindling away, had better examine the soil deep 

 down at the edges of his beds to see if robber roots have not entered 

 and taken possession, and, if so, to sever them well back. Robberies 

 of this kind are sure to take place if the large trees are growing in a 

 poor and hungry soil. Cutting beds, though requiring shade, should 

 never be made on the ground beneath large trees, as it is absolutely 

 certain that the giant plant, having possession, will starve the poor 

 and struggling cutting. 



