26 BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



thing to which they have access, are called the 

 Pullers-down of nature, while their opponents 

 have been styled the Builders-up. Besides, 

 the knowledge received from observation, we 

 have another and an unerring source of infor- 

 mation on this subject. The Bible mentions 

 the express creation of a set of vegetable powers 

 distinct from matter and the Mechanical 

 Forces. Will you read the account from Gen. 

 ii. v. 5? 



L. And the LORD GOD made every plant of 

 the field before it wns in the earth, and every 

 herb of the field before it grew. Plants then 

 were made before animals. 



E. Yes, plants are necessary to the existence 

 of animals, their leaves are required to purify 

 <he air. 



L. I thought storms did that? 



E. They render assistance in another way. 

 but not at all in this of which we are speaking. 

 If I place this large bellglass or receiver over 

 the lamp, how long will it continue burning ? 



L. A very little time. You have told me 

 before that two kinds of gases, oxygen and nitro- 

 gen, form the atmosphere. Oxygen is the true 

 supporter of combustion, and the nitrogen is 





