CHAPTER THREE 
HOW PLANTS LIVE 
One who raises plants gets pleasure out of his craft in 
proportion as he knows what they are doing in root and 
branch or in flower and fruit, at every turn of the season. 
James G. NEEDHAM 
A PLANT has its needs, such as food, water, air, sun- 
light, and protection from its enemies; and if these 
needs are not supplied, it will grow poorly or may even 
die. If a garden plant stands in poor soil, or is much 
shaded, it grows only slowly. If it remains wilted con- 
tinuously for several days and nights because of lack of 
water, it is almost sure to die. And when plants are not 
protected against insects and disease, many of them are 
injured or destroyed. Like the gardener himself, the 
cabbages, beets, carrots, and other plants which he 
grows are alive, and to be healthy and vigorous, they 
must have the things that they need for living and 
growing. 
The work of the gardener. The task of the gardener 
is to supply the needs of his plants — to give them the 
best possible conditions for growth. The gardener, 
therefore, enriches the soil so that it will supply an 
abundance of food materials. He cultivates among his 
plants so that the water will be retained in the soil. He 
thins the seedlings in the rows and destroys the weeds, 
so that each plant will be able to secure sufficient food 
materials, water, light, and space to develop fully. If 
necessary, he also sprays his plants to protect them 
from insects and disease. And he does all this work in 
order to give his plants better conditions for life and 
growth. 
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