HORTICULTURE 



CHAPTER I 

 PLANT LIFE 



Befoke taking up the special problems of gardening and fruit 

 growing, let us make a rapid survey of the broader phases of 

 plant life. 



Importance of Plants. — All human life, and indeed, all animal 

 life is dependent upon plants for sustenance. Most plants are able 

 to obtain their nourishment from soil and air. The food thus 

 produced is stored in the form of fruits, vegetables, and other crops, 

 and is used for the maintenance of men and lower animals. 



Without plants no animal life could long exist; as animals are 

 not able to obtain their nourishment directly from soil and air alone. 



Conditions for Plant Growth. — Because of the great value of 

 plant growth to human life, it is quite necessary that we study 

 carefully the needs of all plants and the special needs of all our 

 crop plants. 



The needs of plants may be grouped under six heads: (1) 

 warmth, (2) moisture, (3) food supply, (4) air, (5) light, (6) free- 

 dom from enemies. If we are able to supply the best conditions 

 under each of these heads we will secure the greatest crops. The 

 great problems of gardening and orcharding are to place the grow- 

 ing plants in such favorable conditions. 



Warmth; Temperature. — Plants are not alike in their temper- 

 ature requirements. Some grow in cold regions where snow and 

 ice surround them. Others are found in torrid regions where frost 

 never occurs. Wide differences are seen in the warmth required 

 by our fruits and vegetables in the temperate zone. Lemons, 

 oranges, certain grapes, and bananas can endure very little, if any 

 freezing weather, even in the dormant season. Peaches are more 

 easily winter-killed than apples and pears. Garden peas and let- 

 tuce can endure cold, frosty weather, and do not thrive well in hot 

 weather. Melons and beans prefer the hot weather. (Chapter IX) . 



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