Occupations > Abercrombie's improved practical gardener; with a monthly calendar for the flower garden

introduction.
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Search of food, they can grow only where planted,
consequently they must be supplied by different
means with food, and that according to their
different habits and constitutions. It must also
be remembered that soil, exclusive of vegetable
matter and water, furnishes nothing to a plant,
and is of no other use than that of furnishing
them with a medium by which they may fix
themselves to the globe; hence the importance
in the application of manure.
Trenching and pulverizing the soil in autumn
and winter (and indeed at all times when the
ground is vacant) greatly improves it, and that
according to its adhesive texture, being indispen¬
sably necessary for strong clay, to separate and
ameliorate the parts; this amelioration and sepa¬
ration of parts is principally effected by frost,
which circumstance may be explained on this
principle, that the expansion of the water con¬
tained in the soil during its congealation increases
about one-twelfth its whole volume, and in -its
contraction of bulk, during a thaw, leaves the
parts so extended, separate from each other, and
so makes the soil more premeable to the influ¬
ence of the sun and air.
1 The object in pulverizing the soil is to give free
and sufficient scope to the roots of vegetables,
which should be abundant, otherwise no plant
will become vigorous, let the soil in which it is
planted be ever so rich. The fibres of the root
take up the nutriment they meet with in the soil
by intro-susception, and the quantity taken up