CH. II.] THE ROOT. 87 



inches : wlieu taken up for storing, the whole were 

 aHke perfectly fusifoim, but those grown at twelve 

 inches apart were the finest, as four and a-half is to 

 three. If manure had been applied to the surface, 

 the fibrous roots, I calculated, would be multiplied at 

 the expense of the caudex, to its much greater detri- 

 ment, than by making the few, usually produced by 

 this root, extend in length by enlarging the circuit 

 of their pasturage. 



Agaui, a more siliceous, darker-coloured soil should 

 be employed for the growth of an early crop of any 

 given plant, than is required by the main crop ; be- 

 cause such soil will more readily get rid of the su- 

 perfluous moisture, and earlier acquire a genial 

 warmth, two gi'eat desiderata for vegetation in spring. 

 On the contrary, in autumn, for a late crop of peas, 

 for instance, the soil should be more aluminous ; 

 because in August and September, atmospheric 

 moisture, in the form of night-dews, abomids, the 

 foliage is therefore perpetually subject to alternate 

 extremes of moistui"e and dijness, whilst the root 

 is liable to a state of exceeding drought. The soil, 

 therefore, should be rich ; and kept in a minute state 

 of division by frequent hoeing, that moisture may be 

 absorbed; and it should be more aluminous, that such 

 moisture may be retained. 



I may now proceed to consider manures, a class of 



