Carbon from the air entering the cells of plants comes in
contact with a substance called chlorophyll resident in the
cells. A wonderful change at once takes place. When the sun is
shining, the carbonic acid and water contained in the cells are
decomposed; _i.e._, separated into the parts composing
them. These, with the carbon, then unite again and form a new
substance very different from either the carbon or the water,
viz., starch or like substance, which, with some of the mineral
matters supplied through the soil water, serves as food for the
protoplasm of the cells, so that the latter increase in number
rapidly and thus cause the plant to grow.
There is real growth of the soul of man only when the divine
spirit unites with the human powers. (Text.)
(1319)
=Growth, Curious=--See OBSTACLES, UNEXPECTED.