carbon dioxid under the influence of sunlight and the life
principle. The oxygen from the water and part of that from the
carbon dioxid is given off into the air through the breathing pores,
while the carbon, hydrogen, and part of the oxygen, unite to form
the carbohydrates. These three elements constitute about ninety-five
per cent. of our farm crops, and yet every one of the other seven
plant food elements is just as essential to the growth and full
development of the plant as are these three."

"Then so long as we have air above and moisture below, our crops
will not lack for carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Is that the summing
up of the matter?"

"Yes, Sir," Percy replied.

"And those three elements make up ninety-five per cent. of our farm
crops. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Sir, as an average."

"Well, now it seems to me, if nature thus provides ninety-five per
cent. of all we need, we ought to find some way of furnishing the
other five per cent. It makes me think of the young wife who told
her husband she could live on bread and water, with his love, and he
told her that if she would furnish the bread he'd skirmish around
and get the water. But, say, did that South Carolina man use any
fertilizer for that immense crop of corn?"

"Some fertilizer, yes. He applied manure and fertilizer from
February till June. In all he applied 1000 bushels (about 30 tons)