32 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



the greater enjoyment, he replied that in the 

 case of his dinner he preferred possession. 



The results of the horticulturist and agricul- 

 turist depend very much upon the weather, but 

 without good preparation of the soil that is, 

 working it when in proper season and supply- 

 ing the land with the proper food for the life 

 of the plant good results can hardly be ex- 

 pected, for Nature does nothing by chance. 

 Plants like animals have their likes and dislikes 

 in food, and what one variety will flourish on 

 will make another shrivel up and die. For 

 instance, clovers and all plants that have flowers 

 of the butterfly order, such as beans and peas, 

 draw their supply of nitrogen from the air. 

 Such plants will not thrive with an extra supply 

 of nitrogen in the soil ; hence, where nitrate of 

 soda is used to get a crop of hay, it is the 

 ryegrasses that flourish, the clovers always suffer- 

 ing from the application. On the other hand, 

 all cereal and root crops benefit by the applica- 

 tion of nitrogen to the soil ; but here it must 



