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PART IV. 



SECT. I. 



Of opening and pufoerifmg the foil. 



IT is not only the bufinefs of the farmer 

 to provide food for plants, but to take 

 care that they are able to reach that food. 

 It is of no ufe if the roots cannot pierce 

 the ground, to get at it. Hence the ne- 

 ceffity of opening or pulverifing the foil. 

 Plants are fed moftly by their roots ; nor 

 do they begin to grow, until thefe roots are 

 fo numerous as to nourHh both themfelves 

 and the ftem. The wider thefe roots are 

 fpread, the more nourimment will the plant 

 receive, the ftronger will it be, the larger 

 will it grow, and the better will it anfwer 

 the defign of nature. 



BUT this is not the only view with 

 which we fhould favour the growth of the 



root, 



