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FIG CULTtJR-E 



fibre and fruit is one of the mysteries of life. We 

 know that soil minerals are carried in solutions up- 

 ward through infinite cells until they reach the 

 leaves, where, coming in contact with carbonic acid 

 and starch they decompose under the influence of 

 heat, light and protoplasm, but how the plant knows 

 the time to change starch into sugar, when to make 

 protein, or to manufacture fibre, oil or cellulose 

 will ever remain one of the miracles of creation. 



There is no record of a chemist having estimated 

 the quantity of chemical food consumed by an acre 

 of fig trees. Reliable analyses have shown the 

 amount used by wheat, corn, apples, plums, and 

 other fruits, and the proportion of each. To those 

 who desire to investigate this subject some general 

 considerations may be of value. 



We know that all plants must have phosphorus, 

 potash and nitrogen or they cannot live. The ashes 

 are mineral while nitrogen is vegetable or organic 

 matter. For best growth some plants require an 

 excess of one element while others prefer a differ- 

 ent proportion. Lichen will cling to the tiniest 

 crevasses in sheer rock, spreading its moss over crags, 

 while the minute rootlets feed on slowly dissolving 

 stone, making way in time for some more important 

 vegetable growth. Long after the lichen has died 

 ferns thrive upon humus formed by the decaying 

 moss; then rocks disintegrate more rapidly. If 

 ground to clay their minerals would be more avail- 



