FOOD OF PLANTS. 63 



ishment is equally necessary to the growth and perfection of 

 a plant, with that of an animal, and the effect of proper or 

 improper feeding is no more visible in the one case, than in 

 the other. The animal and the plant are alike dependent 

 upon foreign matter, not only for their growth, but for exist- 

 ence itself. It may be stated, then, as a general law, that 



All vegetables must have a supply of food, in quantity and 

 quality, suited to their age and character. 



1. The supply of food must be constant. Plants differ 

 from animals in this respect ; the latter require it at stated 

 times, with considerable intervals between ; while the former, 

 owing to their organs of nutrition, must have a constant sup- 

 ply, at least, during the period of growtli. Perennial plants, 

 however, in cold climates, are capable of resting for several 

 months without drawing any nourishment from the soil ; and 

 in this respect, they resemble those animals which are torpid, 

 during the same period. 



2. The supply of food must be properly regulated. If too 

 much nourishment is added at any one period of growth, the 

 organs will become clogged, or the plant will attain a rapid, 

 but sickly growth. This is the case, when seeds are planted 

 in fermenting or green manures, and when plants grow upon 

 dung-hills ; hence the reason for incorporating the manures 

 intimately with the soil. If too little food is supplied, the 

 plant will languish, and its productions will be scanty, and of 

 an inferior quality. 



The most important rule on this subject is to graduate the 

 nutriment, according to the wants of the crop, at each succes- 

 sive stage of its growth. During the process of germination, 

 no foreign matter is needed. The young plant, as soon as its 

 leaves have become fully expanded, derives most of its matter 

 from the atmosphere. It is during the maturing of the fruit 

 or grain, that plants derive most nourishment from the soil. 

 This is supposed to be partly due to the fact, that the leaves 

 and stalks, previous to the formation of the fruit, have their 



