9 ON THE USE AND OFFICES 



clearly, demonstrate the absolute necessity of 

 light, to stimulate and sustain the generating 

 faculty ; which is the grand object of our labour 

 and study in that part of agriculture immediately 

 under consideration. 



It may further be observed, that it is an un- 

 deviating law of nature, that no plant shall 

 produce blossoms, or fruit, until it be furnished 

 with a surface of branches, stalk, and leaves, 

 proportioned to the quantity of fluids supplied 

 by the roots. 



Thus we find, that if two plants are placed, 

 one in a rich luxuriant soil, and the other in a 

 poor dry soil, the supply of food collected by 

 the roots of the one in the rich soil will be 

 large, and consequently the roots, branches, 

 and leaves, will be large. The supply furnished 

 by that in a poor dry soil will be small, and 

 the surface of the stem, branches, and leaves, 

 will be small ; and thus the surface of the trunk, 

 branches, and leaves, being in each case in due 

 proportion to the annual produce of fluids, (pro- 

 vided each be alike exposed to light and heat,) 

 will each alike, in point of time, attain maturity, 

 and produce seed or fruit. 



Plants growing close together, run up tall, 

 which is occasioned, by a natural propensity to 

 spread and expose their surfaces to the sun and 



