46 ON INCREASING THE GROWTH 



III. ON INCREASING THE GROWTH OF 

 PLANTS BY MANURING. 



If we give abundant and invigorating food to an 

 animal, it becomes vigorous and fat; on scanty and 

 slightly nutritive food it continues poor and lean. It 

 is precisely the same with plants. If they find all 

 the substances which they require for their nourish- 

 ment and full development in abundant quantity 

 and in suitable form in the soil and in the air, they 

 will grow up more vigorously, and put forth more 

 branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits, than when they 

 meet with these substances, or even but one of 

 them, in insufficient quantity. By rich and plentiful 

 food the farmer fattens his cattle ; by rich and plen- 

 tiful food he can also fatten his plants. In this re- 

 spect plants are placed in the same circumstances as 

 animals during stall-feeding: they are confined to 

 one fixed spot, and cannot quit it in order to seek 

 in another place what may perhaps be wanting to 

 them in their own locality. If, therefore, they are to 

 grow luxuriantly, the farmer must take care that their 

 food lies near enough for them to reach it by their 

 roots. 



In fattening animals, the farmer is careful to sup- 

 ply them, in addition to good food, with warm sheds 

 and suitable littering ; he also provides for their 

 cleanliness and proper attendance, because he knows 

 that this care promotes and increases their health 



