Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30
For the Freeman.
A Chat with Our Readers,
BY AGRICOLA.

ABOUT TIE CIRCULATION OF MATTER.
No. 5.
Both the plant and the animal die, and
restore to the earth nll the mineral matter
they contain. But this does not remain
where it is deposited. Rains and rivers
daily remove it from the soil, and trans
fer ii to the ocean. Hence the tendency is
to Grain the earth of its mineral food for
the plant and animal, and to make it IL
barren desert But against this evil na
urc has provided. The solid rocks crum.
BILE and mingle their mineral matter with
the soil, and thus constant supplies of
phosphoric acid, lime and magnesia Ell
ceterH are furnished. These the springs
which trickle down the rocks dissolve and
diffuse wherever they flow. Thus new
supply is constantly brought to the surface
to replace what has been removed
The sea also helps in this work of restor-
alton. Its he wing waves break in foam.
and the rough winds bear back to the
land the salt which the rivers have borne
to its bosom. Physical revolutions also
work to the same end. Land and water
change places. The sea bells with all
their rich deposits, become fruitful field
| Thus the same matter plays over again
the same part it acted before in the con-
slant succession of animal and vegetable
life. All the varieties of matter which
are essential to the existence of living
forms are in a constant state of circula
tion. 1t is interesting to observe how
small a quantity of matter is employed in
the constant development of life. Ovel
and over again plant and animal are
formed out of the same material, and %
soon as it has been liberated from one
form, it assumes another equally importan
in the economy of nature.
Unceasing activity is the law of matter
AS well as of mind. Though senseess. i
is never idle, nor useless, but always toll
ing to accomplish definite purpose. Tit
plant may seem to he amusing itself il
forming starch and fat from carbonic acit
and water, and the animal may seem t
be merely undoing what the plant ha
done, re-converting starch and fat int,
carbonc acid and water. But all this il
indispensable TO the continuance of ANNA
life.
The plant is the servant of the animal
without it he could not exist. He coul,
not live upon earth or air, although hi
body requires Il constant supply of the ell
ements contained in both. The plant col
lccts and binds together the indigestbl,
materials, and manufactures them int
food for man and beast. These, in turn
throw back again TO their toiing slave
the waste which they can no longer use
to be converted into nutritious food
The plant tolls itself to death for the ami
NAL, but in the spring it renews its toll t.
the same end.
And how exact the arrangements ant
working of this complicated machinery
Should the minute portions of carboni
acid found in the atmosphere be removed
the whole vegetable world in n singl,
hour would droop, and in single weel
die. Yet the human organs could no
detect the change in the condition of TIN
air, if it had taken place. How dependen
and helpless is man. The Creator could
at once, by the turning, as it were. of
single screw, destroy every trace of vital
~ on the face of the globe. But life i
the browning glory of the universe, an,
will be preserved.