THE 88 
GARDEN YARD 
need the same amount of it. You will find that 
those which need much light can turn towards 
it, and this of itself will show you where such 
plants should be sown. Plants have various 
ways to resist the supply of light when they 
are getting too much. They droop their heads 
or close their leaves, which prevents evapora- 
tion. 
Different plants need different food and the 
same soil conditions will not suit all. Some re- 
quire rich soil if they are to flourish, while some 
do better in poor soil. On the whole, plants, 
like people, are better for under-feeding than 
for over-feeding. In general, starving a plant 
makes it flower and fruit more quickly, but less 
abundantly; while over-feeding helps to make 
much stem and leaf instead of fruit, and also 
produces monstrosities. Too much nitrogen, 
especially, makes too much stem and leaf, 
though nitrogen is one of the most important 
plant foods. (Bailey says too much nitrogen 
can be corrected to a certain extent, by potas- 
sium put in the soil.*) 
We are sure of only three plant foods—potash, 
phosphoric acid, and nitrogen. Then there are 
* Norr.—In regard to muck soils, it is not a case of excess of 
nitrogen but lack of potash which makes potash valuable for such. 
Samuel Fraser. 
