CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS. 113 



organization of new plants. The theory is certainly plausible, 

 whether founded in truth or not. 



Chemistry is indeed limited on every side, however important its 

 contributions to knowledge. The chemist can analyze the grain 

 of wheat and tell us precisely its component parts, but let him take 

 all the elements of wheat, and see whether, with all his science and 

 skill, he can make a grain of wheat, or a quantity of flour, or any 

 of its products. Why, if he know5 what wheat is composed of, 

 and the precise proportions of his elements, can he not form the 

 grains ; and why, when thus formed, will those grains not vegetate, 

 and grow, and bear fruit? The answer occurs to every reflecting 

 mind. The Omnipotence that formed the grain of wheat, and im- 

 planted in it a principle of life and growth and reproduction, is 

 not to be measured by the chemist. 



The Life Principle, which guides and controls the plant, from its 

 germ, through ever}^ stage of growth, in leaf and stem and flower 

 and fruit, the chemist by subtlest analysis cannot reach. Science 

 cannot tell him why the acorn should always produce an oak, 

 and not a chestnut. No analysis, however minute, can give him a 

 hint even, of what gives its color to the rose, or its fragrance to 

 the violet ; or what imparts to one plant its deadly poison and to 

 another its medicinal power of healing. Why the same soil, 

 enriched by the same food, watered by the same dews and rains, 

 breathed on by the same air, and basking in the same sunshine, 

 should yield an infinite variety of form, of size, of color, of per- 

 fume, of taste and qualities, is yet beyond the scope of science. 



There are certain habits and instincts in plants which to this 

 day find no explanation through science. I once asked a learned 

 professor why is it that the common hop always twines about the 

 pole which supports it, from east to west. Of the fact there is no 

 dispute. Among a million plants there is no exception. My 

 friend, after a little reflection, said he thought it might well 

 enough be accounted for by the attraction of the light of the sun. 

 As the sun rises the plant is attracted toward him, and follows his 

 course toward the west. I replied that his explanation seemed 

 reasonable, and I should like now to have him explain why the 

 bean always twines round the pole in the opposite direction, 

 which you know it always does. He said it was easier to deny 

 the fact than to explain it, and he did not believe a word of it. 



What we call chemical affinities and chemical combinations, are 



15 



