58 



PROPAGATION AND 



[chap. 



increase, proves they had as much nourishment from the land E 

 as from the land A, wherein they stood, which nourishment was 

 brought by less than half the number of roots of each of these 

 Turnips. In their own land they must have extended a yard all 

 round, else they could not have reached the land E, wherein it 

 is probable these few roots went more than another yard, to give 

 each turnip as much increase as all the roots had done in their 

 own land. Except that it will hereafter appear that the new 

 nourishment, taken at the extremities of the roots in the land E, 

 might enable the plants to send out more new roots in their 

 own land, and receive something more from thence. The row c, 

 being twice as big as the row dy must be supposed to extend 

 twice as far ; and the row h four times as far, in proportion as 

 it was of a bulk quadruple to the row 



114. Thus, then, it is clear that tillage amongst growing plants 

 is a great thing. Not only is it of great benefit to the plants ; not 

 only does it greatly augment the amount of the crop, and make it 

 of the best quality ; but it prepares the ground for another crop. 

 If a summer fallow be good for the land, here is a summer fallow ; 

 if the ploughing between tmm^s prepare the land for wheat, the 

 digging between cabbages and other crops will, of course, prepare 

 the land for succeeding crops. 



115. Watering plants, though so strongly recommended in 

 English Gardening books, and so much in practice, is a thing of 

 very doubtful utility in any case, and, in most cases, of positive 

 injury. A country often endures present suffering from long 

 drought ; but, if even ail the gardens and all the fields could, in 

 such a case, be watered with a watering-pot, I much question 

 whether it would be beneficial even to the crops of the dry season 

 itself. It is not, observe, rain water that you can, one time out of 

 a thousand, water with. And, to nourish plants, the water must 

 be prepared in clouds and mists and dews. Observe this. Besides, 

 when rain comes, the earth is prepared for it by that state of the 

 air which, precedes rain, and which makes all things damp, and 

 slackens and loosens the earth, and disposes the roots and leaves 

 for the reception of the rain. To pour water, therefore, upon 

 plants, or upon the ground where they are growing, or where seeds 

 are sown, is never of much use, and is generally mischievous ; for, 

 the air is dry ; the sun comes immediately and bakes the ground, 

 and vegetation is checked, rather than advanced, by the operation. 



