356 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



soluble. If its solubility were represented by 

 figures, one part of good mould would dissolve 

 in 100,000 parts of water. The same might be 

 said of many stones; in fact, some show acon- 

 siderably larger solubility. A plant, therefore, 

 whose roots meandered through a mass of pow- 

 dered stones, would be actually in a better con- 

 dition, as regards its supply of soluble matter, 

 than one planted in pure vegetable mould. 



It becomes clear, then, that while analysis 

 fully confirms the fact that the vegetable soil 

 abounds in one of the elements of wood, or in 

 carbon, yet, at the same time, we arc taught, 

 that it is in such a condition as to be utterly 

 useless to vegetation for food. The source of 

 wood in plants is, consequently, not in the soil. 

 Its true source is the atmosphere. This may 

 excite surprise, and even challenge belief, but it 

 is based upon the most incontestable evidence 

 afforded by vegetable physiology. The wood of 

 plants is derived from the thin air which they 

 breathe : thus air, or, more properly speaking, 

 one of its ingredients, is actually the food of 

 vegetation. The orchis-tribe, or, as they are 

 commonly called, the " airplants," furnish us 

 with a beautiful illustration of this fact. These 

 plants, in their native haunts, are found upon the 

 branches of lofty trees, seated as it were in state, 

 and surrounded with groups of flowers and leaves, 



