I have heard people say that it is not wise to grow the same thing in the same soil year after year: why is this?
Because it would gradually consume all the food there, and then it would starve, and look miserable.
Then my beautiful flower-bed will by-and-by cease to bring forth such a fine show as it has done this season.
Of course it will, unless you provide your plants with fresh food.
Fresh food, father; I do not understand you.
I mean, manure must be mixed with the soil.
How is manure food for plants?
Because it contains the materials they require. You throw wood ashes over the ground, and so add sulphur, potash, and carbon. Sea weed manure furnishes plenty of soda. Bone dust contains lime and phosphorus.
It is possible, then, to apply to the ground the amount of solid matter taken out of it by the plant, so that if my radish bed had some manure, it would be as good as it was before my crop came off.
That is perfectly correct, my boy.