HOW PLANTS FEED 51 



were enticed into the plant they were of no value to man. 

 He could not use them for food or for clothing ; he could 

 not use them for fuel to cook his food or to keep his body 

 warm ; nor could he call upon them for any special use. 



But behold the change when the plant takes them up ! 



Without value in the soil and air before, now the plant 

 calls them into use : tissue is built, which soon becomes 

 food for man and beast; clothing for shivering or blis- 

 tered skins is now provided ; shelter for the strong and 

 weak is now possible ; fire for a thousand uses is now 

 ablaze ; energy for the work of the world is now avail- 

 able! 



