ON THE NUTRIMENT OF PLANTS. 27 



also when applied in too high a degree to plants, injures their 

 constitution in a manner that they lose in a certain degree 

 their natural strength or habit. Heat and moisture, in all ca- 

 ses, should be regulated as much as possible to correspond to 

 the natural habit of the plants that are to be cultivated. 



ART. 5. Observations on the Roots of Plants. 



The roots of plants being intended by nature as channels 

 by which the principal food is absorbed and conveyed to the 

 different parts, and finally forms a part of the plant, should 

 be very familiar to the cultivator. 



By due observation it will be seen that the adaptation of 

 plants to their proper soil is of the greatest importance, as 

 plants placed in a soil uncongenial to them, seldom thrive 

 well, owing to improper food being absorbed by their roots : 

 and, in many cases, roots have been known to travel out of 

 their proper position in quest of a more proper nutriment. 

 The time of circulation of the sap in roots is different in dif- 

 ferent kinds, as may be exemplified by plants and shrubs be- 

 ginning to put forth their leaves at various periods, in the 

 same location. This fact may be proved by any intelligent 

 observer who will notice the commencement of vegetation in 

 native plants and shrubs, in any given part of the country, 

 under the same circumstances and in the same location. 



" Roots being furnished with the power of perpetually ad- 

 ding new living matter to their points," says Lindley, are 

 thus enabled to pierce the solid earth in which they grow ; to 

 insinuate themselves between the most minute crevices, and 

 to pass on from place to place as fast as the food in contact 

 with them is consumed. So that plants, although not loco- 

 motive like animals, do perpetually shift their mouths in 

 search of fresh pasturage, although their bodies remain sta- 

 tionary." 



He further continues, " There is no period of the year 

 when roots become altogether inactive, except when they 

 are actually frozen. At all other times during the winter 



