2 Of Roots and Leaves. Chap. I. 



Minutenefs, and earthly Tincture, become invifible 

 to the naked Eye. 



A Method how to find the Diftance to which Roots 

 extend Horizontally, 



PL &. Fig. 7. Is a Piece or Plot dug and made 

 iine in whole hard Ground, the End A 2 Feet, the 

 End B 12 Feet, the Length of the Piece 20 Yards •, 

 the Figures in the middle of it are 20 Turneps y fown 

 early, and well ho'd. 



The manner of this Hoing mull be at firft near 

 the Plants, with a Spade, and each time afterwards, 

 a Foot farther Diftance, till all the Earth be once well 

 dug ; and if Weeds appear where it has been fo dug, 

 hoe them out (hallow with the Hand-Floe. But 

 dig all the Piece next the out Lines deep every time, 

 that it may be the finer for the Roots to enter, when 

 they are permitted to come thither. 



If thefe Turneps are all gradually bigger, as they 

 fland nearer to the End 5, 'tis a Proof they all extend 

 to the Outfide of the Piece -, and the Turnep 20 will 

 appear to draw Nourifhment from fix Feet Diftance 

 from its Centre. 



But if the Turneps 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, acquire 

 no greater Bulk than the Turnep 15, it will be clear, 

 that their Roots extend no farther than thole of the 

 "Turnep 15 does; which is but about 4 Feet. 



By this Method the Diftance of the Extent of 

 Roots of any Plant may be difcover'd. 



What put me upon this Method was an Qbfer vation 

 of two Lands (or Ridges) drill'd with Turneps in 

 Rows, a Foot afunder, and very even in them •, the 

 Ground, at both Ends, and one Side, was hard and 

 unplow'd •, the Turneps not being ho'd, were very 

 poor, fmall, and yellow, except the Three outfide 

 Rows, #, C x D, which ftood next to the Land (or 

 Ridge) E y which Land being plow'd and harrow'd, 

 at the time the Land A ought to have been ho'd, 



gave 



