CHAP.IT.] MANURING THE SOIL. 27 
will be injurious. The spongioles thus im¬ 
bibe the saturated liquid; and* loaded with 
this improper food* the fibrous roots* like 
an overgorged snake* become distended* the 
fine epidermis that covers them is tom 
asunder* their power of capillary attraction 
is gone* and they can neither force the food 
they have taken up* into the main roots* 
nor reject the excrementitious matter sent 
down to them from the leaves* after the ela¬ 
boration of the sap. In this state of things* 
from the usual circulation of the fluids being 
impeded* it is not surprising that the plant 
should droop* that its leaves should turn yel¬ 
low* that its flowers should not expand* 
that its fruit should shrivel and drop off* 
prematurely* and that in the end it should 
die; as* in fact* it may be said to expire of 
apoplexy* brought on by indigestion. 
All soil* to be in a fit state for growing 
plants* should be sufficiently loose and dry 
to allow of water passing through it inter¬ 
mixed with air; as water* when in this state 
is never more than slightly impregnated with 
the nutritious juices of the manure through 
which it has passed. The spongioles are 
