178 INORGANIC SUBSTANCES. 



soil organic elements, and upon the remains of their 

 decomposition sprung up what we call higher orders 

 of vegetable life. These gave way to others ; and at 

 last, from the death of these numerous generations, 

 the soil became supplied with organic elements, 

 and then the fruit tree appeared ; not according to 

 the Darwinian theory, by development one from 

 another, but by independent creations of the great 

 Designer. 



Barren sandy lands are unproductive because 

 they do not contain these organic substances. We 

 shall consider the method of supplying them in the 

 proper place. 



n. INORGANIC SUBSTANCES. 



These are found only in the soil, and although 

 many of them enter in very small quantities the 

 organism of plants, they are none the less impor- 

 tant. One link, however small it may be, is neces- 

 sary to the completion of a chain ; just so a one- 

 thousandth part of some inorganic substance is 

 demanded by the plant to perfect its structure. 

 The n,ames of these inorganic substances are as 

 follows : 



