66 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



its nourishment in a different manner; the matter 

 which forms its roots appears to have been elabora- 

 ted in its rich and succulent herbage, and it is on the 

 leaves of plants that the atmosphere produces its 

 greatest effects. 



The third inference is, that plants which draw their 

 nourishment from the earth, and those that are most 

 influenced by atmospheric causes, should alternate 

 with each other; and that plants that draw their 

 nourishment from the surface should be succeeded 

 by those that seek their food at greater depths. 

 Here is the reason, and a sufficient one it is, why 

 roots should constitute a more important part of the 

 system of American Husbandry. The grains are 

 fibrous-rooted, and spread themselves principally 

 near the surface ; the tap-rooted plants, such as 

 clover, turnips, &.C., go deeper; and while their lux- 

 uriant leaves are employed in aerating their juices, 

 their roots are penetrating the earth beyond the 

 reach of the fibrous class. 



A fourth inference is, that a succession of plants of 

 the same species, when possible, should be avoided, 

 as continued cultivation has a tendency to increase 

 the enemies of that particular plant, and a rotation 

 or change would tend to prevent such increase. 

 Owing to the sowing of seed without preparation or 

 precaution, the Hessian-fly, in some districts in 

 England and on Long Island, became so numerous 

 as nearly to destroy the wheat-crop. It was, in con- 

 sequence, mostly abandoned for a few years in such 

 places, and the insect, lacking its proper nidus for 

 propagation, soon disappeared. Such has been the 

 case with the pea-bug. This bug had so multiplied in 

 some parts of the western district that the pea was 

 almost Avorthloss, and the culture was generally dis- 

 continued. A few years has elapsed, and they are 

 again coming into use as a field-crop, and the bug is 

 scarcely known, or certainly not to any injurious 

 extent. A brewer at Newbuiyportj in Massachu- 



