2 MANUAL FOE SUGAR GROWERS. 



tinuoiis clianges which are observed daily, these 

 changes being simply the result of the re-arrange- 

 ment of the same matter over and over again in the 

 ever-varying forms existing on the earth. 



Another important fact is the knowledge that all 

 the things in the world result from the combination 

 of two or more of some sixty-five simple substances, 

 or, as chemists call them, elements. These elements 

 are each composed of one kind of matter only, " and 

 out of each no two or more essentially differing 

 substances can be obtained." 



A list of the elements, T\ith their combining 

 weights, is given in the table on page 138. 



Some of these elements are extremely rare sub- 

 stances, while others exist in enormous quantities. 

 The following are those which enter into combina- 

 tion to form all the various parts of plants and plant 

 products : 



Hydrogen. Potassium. Sodium. 



Oxygen. Calcimn. ■ Manganese. 



Carbon. Magnesium. Silicon. 



Nitrogen. Iron. Chlorine. 



Sulphur. Phosphorus. 



From this it follows that if some particular ele- 

 ment be wanted — say, for instance, potassium — to 

 supply plant-food in a soil deficient in that element, 

 then something containing potassium must be used 

 to supply the defect, for out of no combination of 

 substances can potassium be created. It must ex- 

 ist in the substance employed, for matter cannot 



