The Story-Book of the Fields 



it is combined — in a word, they decompose 

 the carbonic acid gas. 



You must not think that it is an easy thing 

 to restore to their primitive condition two 

 substances which have been combined by 

 fire, and to bring back something, which has 

 been burnt, to its original state. Scientific 

 men would need all the ingenious methods 

 and all the powerful drugs at their command 

 to deprive the carbonic gas of its carbon. 

 This work, which would require all the 

 resources of the man of science, is easily 

 accomplished by the leaves without effort, 

 instantaneously, but always on condition of 

 having the assistance of the sun. 



But if the sunlight is lacking the plant 

 has no effect on the carbonic gas, which is 

 its chief food. Then it languishes and starves. 

 It stretches upward as if to seek the light of 

 which it has been deprived, its leaves and 

 stalk turn pale and lose their green colour, 

 and at last it dies. This sickly condition, 

 caused by privation of light, is called etiolation. 

 It is promoted in horticulture in order to 

 obtain more tender garden stuff, and to 

 diminish or get rid of the strong and un- 

 pleasant flavour of some vegetables. The 

 lettuce is tied round with a reed, so that the 



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