The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-08-06
THE BATTLE OF LIFE AMONG PLANTS

Maxwell I. Masters, NJ. D., +. Il. S.,
publishes in the Popular Science Review
the following article on the changes con-
tinually occurring in the vegetable
world.
Every hour there is going on verita-
BILE dcath.struggle among plants. In
horticulture or agriculture, If we remain
neutral, the weakest is overpowered by
the strongest; if we interfere, we exert a
very powerful influence for time, but
when we cease to exert our power, the
combat begins again, and with enhanced
violence. That certain plants, flowers
and fruits attain far greater perfection in
gardens than in their native states, is
largely due to the fact that they are re.
moved from the environment of hostile
plants. But the success Of the stronger
IS often only temporary; victor becomes
in time the vanquished, and the van
qnlshed, in tnrn, regains its former con-
quest. Agriculturists have long known
the advantages of rotation of crops, but
II was bureau de Ia Male who, in 1925,
called attention to natural rotation. In
pasture lands, for instance, the grasses
are IN the ascendant ut one time; the
leguminous plants are another; so that
in thirty years be witnessed five or six
alterations. Dean Herbert deduced from
this that a plant does not necessarily
grow in the situation best adapted for it,
but where ii can hold its own against
hostile neighbors, and best sustain itself
against unfavorable conditions generally.
First corners have an advantage over la
ter visitants; the more prolific outuum-
Der the less prolific; perennial has bet
ter chance than an annual; the long,
creeping quitch (Iriticum repenS), capa-
Bile of roofing at every joint, has an i'm
mense advantage; the tree with dense
foliage shuts off from Its lower neighbor
much Of the light and air necessary for
existence. When any sudden alteration
takes place in external circumstances, we
may expact to find corresponding
change in the vegetation. In the case of
\ barren heath, mentioned by Darwin,
portion Of which had been planted with
Scots frs, the proportional numbers of
heath plants were wholly changed, aud
twelve species OF plants, not counting
grasses aud carices, tlourished in the
plantation, which could not be found Oh
the heath. Sometimes the seeds are
waited from a distance, but when the cir |
cumstances will not admit OF this inter. |
pretation, we eau only suppose that the |
seeds or bulbs existed IN the soil under |
circumstances not favorable to their de. /
yelopment. II Is difficult to account for |.
the signal defeat native plants often incur
at the hand OF invading strangers. Hum
boldt aud others held the opinion that
certain plants cxcrele matters hartful TO I
other plants; but modern physologists do /.
not admit this. a crop will fail, aud !
chemical analysis OF the soil will show /.
that the particular elements required for
that crop are still there IN sufficient album I
dance. Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert have /
experimental on plots Of ground which .
have been in grass for centuries, these (
plots being placed under as nearly equal .
conditions a. possible. Some have been .
subjected to various mauures In tic /
several manured plots, a change occurs,
sometimes slight, at other times vast, in .
the more or less complete exclusion OF
certain plants, aud their replacement
BY others. The application Of mixed .
mineral manure, consisting of salts OF
potash, soda, Inagnusia aud lime, causes
but little difference Ia the number Of
specie. While the uunauured plots far
nish BY weight sixty per eent Of grasses,
the plots 10 which admixlure OF mineral
aud nitfogeuoa. mauures Is added, ield-
ed uinety-iiye per eent " grasses, aisl
these being 20 a comparatively fcw spr
cies. salts or potash aud line, which
are comparatively inert ~ regards grass
est increase the yigor and numerical pro-
portion u legumlnous plants Prof.
Hoffman, of 6lessen, having ascenAined
by experiment tlat particular plants
grow well ID all varieties Of soil, proyid-
"a tie growth 81 weeds was prevented,
be next Ieit these plants to the lnroad. Of
weeds. The weeds completely gained .
ihe upper hand, numbering 40 species,
aud then commenced a Struggle amongst
themselves which resulted ID The survival
Of bat few species. L may Be inferred
that tbs district would, Ia e0urse 81 tlme