THE LIFE OF A PRIMROSE. 16$ 
and oil, which we get from plants, are nothing more 
than hydrogen and oxygen in different quantities 
joined to carbon. 
It is very difficult at first to picture such a black 
thing as carbon making part of delicate leaves and 
beautiful flowers, and still more of pure white sugar. 
But we can make an experiment by which we can 
draw the hydrogen and oxygen out of common loaf 
sugar, and then you will see the carbon stand out in 
all its blackness. I have here a plate with a heap of 
white sugar in it. I pour upon it first some hot water 
to melt and warm it, and 
then some strong sulphuric 
acid. This acid does noth- 
ing more than simply draw 
the hydrogen and oxygen FlG - 43- Carbon rising up 
oi- r from white sugar. 
out. See ! in a few moments 
a black mass of carbon begins to rise, all of which 
has come out of the white sugar you saw just now.* 
You see, then, that from the whitest substance in 
plants we can get this black carbon; and in truth, 
one-half of the dry part of every plant is composed 
of it. 
Now look at my plant again, and tell me if we have 
not already found a curious history? Fancy that you 
see the water creeping in at the roots, oozing up from 
cell to cell till it reaches the leaves, and there meet- 
* The common dilute sulphuric acid of commerce is not strong 
enough for this experiment, and any child who wants to get pure 
sulphuric acid must take some elder person with him, otherwise 
the chemist will not sell it to him. Great care must be taken in 
using it, as it burns everything it touches. 
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