PRODUCTIVE GARDENING 77 



understand why it is that water plays this all- 

 important part in the functions of plant life. 

 For it appears that the essential basis of life it- 

 self, namely, protoplasm, is a substance composed 

 largely of water and having the physical consti- 

 tution of a viscid liquid. 



We find, moreover, that no particle of solid 

 matter can, under normal conditions, penetrate 

 the walls of the cells that make up the minute 

 compartments in which the individual masses of 

 protoplasm lie. 



Ramifying everywhere among these are spaces 

 and tubules that convey water and air. And por- 

 tions of this water and air are absorbed by the 

 bits of protoplasm through their cell walls. 



With the water they gain the mineral constit- 

 uents that are essential for their nourishment. 

 But these include no minerals that are insoluble. 



It is true that the plant rootlets may on occa- 

 sion secrete certain fluids that aid the water in 

 bringing into solution some intractable chemi- 

 cals. But these secretions themselves are watery 

 fluids and they would be ineffective if water were 

 not present to complete the work they begin. 



In a word, then, the all-essential element for 

 which provision must be made by the gardener or 

 other plant developer is water. Where water is 

 present, anywhere in the world, we find plant life 



