The First Book of Farming Part 33

=Bacteria=, very small plants, so small that they cannot be seen without the aid of a powerful microscope. They are sometimes called "germs." Some of them are beneficial, some do great harm and some produce disease.

=Biennial=, a plant that lives two years, usually producing seeds the second year.

=Bordeaux mixture,= a mixture of copper sulphate, lime and water used to prevent plant diseases. It was invented in Bordeaux, France.

=Bud=, an undeveloped branch.

=Calyx=, the outermost part of a flower.

=Cambium=, the active growing layer between the bark and the wood of a tree.

=Capillary=, Hair-like. A name given to very small s.p.a.ces through which water flows by the force of capillary attraction.

=Carbohydrate=, an organic substance made of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon, but containing no nitrogen; cellulose or woody fibre, sugar, starch are examples.

=Carbon=, a chemical element. Charcoal is nearly pure carbon.

=Carbonic acid gas=, a gas consisting of carbon and oxygen. It is produced from the lungs of animals, and by the decay or burning of organic matter.

=Catch crop=, a crop growing during the interval between regular crops.

=Cereal=, a name given to the grain crops that are used for food.

=Chlorophyl=, the green matter in plants.

=Commercial fertilizers=, materials containing plant food which are bought and sold in the markets to improve the soil.

=Compost=, a mixture of decaying organic matter used to enrich the soil.

=Cross pollination=, the pollination of a flower by pollen brought from some other flower.

=Cover crop=, a crop to cover the soil during the interval between regular corps.

=Cultivator=, a farm implement used to loosen the surface of the soil and to kill weeds after a crop has been planted.

=Cutting=, a part of a plant placed in moist soil, water or other medium with the object of its producing roots and making a new plant.

=Dormant=, said of plants when they are resting or inactive. Most plants are dormant during the winter season.

=Drainage=, the method by which surplus water is removed from the land.

=Element=, a substance that cannot be divided into simpler substances.

=Fermentation=, the process by which organic substances are broken down or changed and new substances formed.

=Fertility=, that state or condition of the soil which enables it to produce crops.

=Fibre=, long thread-like structure.

=Flocculate=, to make crumbly.

=Free water=, standing water or water which flows under the influence of gravity.

=Function=, the particular action of any part of an organism.

=Furrow=, the trench left by the plow.

=Furrow slice=, the strip of earth which is turned by the plow.

=Germinate=, to sprout.

=Grafting=, the process of inserting a cion or bud in a stock plant.

=Green manure crops=, crops intended to be plowed under to improve the soil.

=Harrow=, an implement used to pulverize the surface of the soil.

=Heavy soils=, soils that are hard to work; stiff, cloddy soils.

=Horticulture=, that branch of agriculture which deals with the growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants.

=Humus=, partially decayed animal and vegetable matter in the soil.

=Hydrogen=, a gaseous, chemical element, one of the const.i.tuents of water.

=Inter-tillage=, tillage between plants.

=Irrigation=, the practice of supplying plants with water by artificial means.

=Kainite=, a potash salt used in making fertilizer.

=Kernel=, a single seed or grain.

=Leaching=, pa.s.sing through and going off in drainage water.

=Legume=, a plant belonging to the bean, pea and clover family.

=Light soils=, soils which are loose and open and easy to work.

=Loam=, a mixture of sand, clay and organic matter.

=Mould board=, the curved part of the plow which turns the furrow slice.

=Mulch=, a covering on the soil. It may be of straw, leaves, pulverized soil or other material.

=Nectar=, a sweet substance in flowers from which bees make honey.

=Nitrate=, a soluble form of nitrogen.