Sl6 GERMINATION OF SEEDS. 



• ' » 



" tion in a state of minute division, combines with the oxi* 

 •' gen gas of the atmosphere, and forms carbonic acid gas." 

 His work in- j nave peruse d this work with much attention; and, so 



conclusive. rr t • ii-. - , . 



lar trom being convinced by it, I can see neither simplicity 



nor improvement \i\ the suggestions it contains for a new 



theory : but it appears rather calculated, if the reasoning be 



conclusive, to throw insurmountable difficulties in the way 



of satihfactorily explaining or understanding the common 



Experiment; functions of respiration and vegetation, Being extremely 

 made to ascer- • ' . , , " r i i • /• 



tain whether anxious to ascertain the simple lactot the absorption of oxi- 



oxigen gas be gen gas, I have for the most part, in conducting my experi- 

 ments, had this idea constantly in view : 1 have not therefore 

 turned either to the right or to the left, to quote from or ex- 

 amine those of others, wishing to keep my mind unchecked 

 and unfettered by the reasonings deduced from them, how- 

 ever plausible and respectable they may be. 

 AJvantrgoous It is not a very common circumstance, to detail the souf- 

 ^irxes'ofer- ces °* errour accidentally discovered in a course of experi- 

 iout. ments ; nor is itunlikely, if it were oftener done, but it might 



prove beneficial in putting others on their guard against the 

 like causes of failure, and prevent much vexation and dis- 

 Instance. appointment. In my own case it has happened, that many 



experiments and hours of nocturnal labour have been ren- 

 dered nugatory by the following simple event for some time 

 escaping my notice, and which my previous experience did 

 ■ not lead me to expect. When the subject of this paper 

 # l^ first began to engage my attention, I had made some coarse 



j^auze bags exactly suited to the diameter of the mercurial 

 jars I intended to use, that, when rilled with the germinating 

 seeds, they might be placed in such a situation as I should 

 prefer in the inverted jars of common a^r or oxigen,,by being 

 thrust up and adhering to the sides. I generally preferred , 

 their being near the top, on account of the superior specific 

 v i gravity of the carbonic acid gas produced, which thus falls 



down, and makes room for every portion of the oxigen gas 

 to. come into contact with the seeds, and be absorbed. The 

 motion of carriages, i\i\d other accidental jarring, frequently 

 occasioned the bags to be displaced. To remedy this incon- 

 venience, I took a quill, and, passing the feathered end 

 under the mercury into the jar, returned the bag to its for- 

 mer 



