ARTIFICIAL SOILS. I2/ 



ing at the soil as the home of the plants, because 

 plants give us food, clothing, and wealth from the 

 ground. We have, in our first book of this series, 

 seen how the air, the wind, the sun, and the rain 

 affect the lives of plants ; and in this book seen some- 

 thing of the way in which plants are affected by the 

 soil in which they grow. Plants live in the soil, and 

 are affected by the weather ; and for these two rea- 

 sons we have now examined both weather and soil. 

 We can next turn to the plants themselves, living 

 things full of beauty, governed by curious and benefi- 

 cent laws, and opening to us a wonderful range of 

 the most singular and fascinating study. To this new 

 and delightful work we will go on in the next book 

 of this series, feeling sure that all we have already 

 learned will be of the greatest value in helping us to 

 understand the ways and habits of our friends the 

 plants. 



