19^ An American Fruit-Farm 



which constitutes the shell or husk of the planet, 

 the shell between the molten mass within and the 

 atmosphere without, will support plant life. But 

 neither tree nor vine penetrates these depths. All 

 our vegetation is superficial, keeping ever within 

 the range of the sun's heat on the siu-face of the 

 earth. Thus the active range of root-life is very 

 limited, as is the range of foliage life. Indeed, 

 foliage may be said to rise and roots to spread. 

 Trees and all vines and shrubs grow literally on 

 the surface of the earth. In Alaska the subsoil 

 remains frozen and marks the impenetrable limit 

 of root-spread. There roots grow laterally, not 

 deep downwards. All this hints at the proper 

 activity of the fruit-grower: to till the soil, not to 

 burrow in the earth, or to bury plant-food too deep. 

 Gravitation draws all supplies downwards; the sim 

 and capillary attraction draw them upwards. 

 Gravitation drains the soil below; the sun drains 

 it above. It is a perpetual game of shuttlecock 

 between these two forces which dominate all life on 

 the globe. 



No man can utilize more food than he can assimi- 

 late, and plants are like men. All that is given the 

 plant more than it can absorb must lie dormant, or 

 waste. We can send tons of good fertilizer on a 

 profitless journey toward the centre of the earth, 

 and not one ounce of food for man be gained. The 

 fruit-grower must know what kind and what 

 amount of food to supply his orchard or vineyard, 

 just as the mother of the house must know how to 



