92 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



is astonishing all the more if we picture to ourselves 

 the weight of a single ton. 



And since one orchard alone can do so much, what 

 must be the supplies which are in this manner got rid 

 of by all the orchards all the gardens all the woods 

 and forests in our country? For not only are trees 

 engaged in the task, but plants of all descriptions as 

 well, including grasses, ferns, and mosses. 



VI GREEN LEAVES 



We have now seen that these little " workshops " 

 have their " raw material " brought to them in two 

 ways. First, from the roots upward through the stem ; 

 and second, by the leaves themselves inwards from the 

 air. First, water, with invisible specks of many kinds 

 floating in it ; and second, air, with its mixture of 

 different kinds of gases. 



From these two sources the leaves are able to work 

 up or to manufacture many " finished articles," as we 

 may call them; such as sugars and starches, and fatty 

 and oily substances, perpetually needed by men; 

 many of which can be obtained in no other way. 



Two wonderful powers work together for this end; 

 each helping the other. 



One of the two is in the leaf itself. It is, the Life 

 in that leaf. We have noticed earlier the extraordinary 

 vigour found in life; and here we find it again the 

 power to work, to grow, to do. 



Throughout the whole tree, in all the active cells of 

 which it is or has been made " has been " because 

 parts are always dying as fresh parts grow in these 



