15 



served on Mango blossoms and leaves after a succession of 

 cloudy days. 



EXPOSURE AND SHELTER. Solitary trees become greatly 

 larger than those that are crowded, whilst their roots are always 

 proportioned to the branches, the same is true with regard to 

 nearly all garden plants, which extend in proportion to their 

 room; hence the necessity of wide planting when trees or 

 shrubs with spreading heads are set out to grow. 



FOOD OF PLANTS. Vegetables cannot live without a supply 

 of food, and are incapable of moving to look for it. The food 

 of all plants varies but little. 



The difference between some garden plants and others is in 

 their greater delicacy ; hence the nourishment given to them 

 requires only a little more delicacy in its preparation. 



Young plants require on first germinating from seed, a differ- 

 ent nourishment than when more advanced, after they have 

 exhausted the nourishment in the seed lobes and seed leaves. 

 Plants derive their nourishment from two sources, the earth 

 and the atmosphere, but principally from the soil through the 

 roots. It is chiefly in the form of water holding various solid 

 matters, in solution that the nutritive matter of the soil is 

 received by the roots, which are furnished at their extremities 

 with spongioles or sucking mouths possessing an amazing power 

 of absorption. 



FIBRINE is a peculiar substance which chemists extract from 

 the blood and muscles of animals. This substance constitutes 

 the fibrous part of the muscles, and resembles gluten in its 

 appearance and elasticity, and a substance possessing the same 

 properties, has been found by Vanquelin in the juice of the 

 Papaw tree : it is called vegetable fibrine. 



GERMINATING OF SEEDS. Some seeds, such as Coffee, require 

 to be sown immediately on being gathered, otherwise the nutri- 

 ent matter contained in the shell becomes too hard to be dis- 

 solved in water. Seeds gathered before they are quite ripe, ger- 

 minate sooner than very ripe ones ; because the nutrient matter 

 is less hard, and more easily diluted with water. But though 



