28 PRINCIPLES OF GARDENING. [CH. I. 



This invariable simultaneous change, this con- 

 sistent adherence to the same order of time, seems to 

 demonstrate that the same circumstances, the same 

 variations of cold and moisture endured, produce this 

 general similar effect ; they make all plants delay or 

 accelerate their leafing to the most favourable time 

 for vegetating. It seems to follow, therefore, that if 

 it be found one year that the best potato crop was 

 obtained by planting on the 15th of March, being 

 the first day the gooseberr}^-leaves opened, and that 

 the following year the leaves of the same tree did 

 not open until the 7th of April, that in such case the 

 potato planting ought until then to be delayed, for, 

 as M. Barck observes, " No one can deny but tliat 

 the same influences which bring forth the leaves 

 of trees, will also make grain vegetate ; and no one 

 can justly assert that a premature sowing will always 

 and everywhere accelerate a ripe harvest." 



I beg leave to explain that my illustration by 

 potato planting is a mere assumption, and that I do 

 not intend to advance that the leafing of the goose- 

 berry and potato planting ought to be simultaneous. 

 I only throw out the suggestion for others to confirm 

 or to refute by observation and ex})eriment, adding 

 only thus much, that Mr. Stillingfleet, one of the 

 most careful of Nature's observers says, that in his 

 time " the prudent gardener never ventured to put 



