2 MANUAL FOR SUGAR GROWERS. 



tinuous changes 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, with 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 : 



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 



