INFLUENCE OF OXIGEN ON GERMINATION. 207 



hours preceding, fome of which I placed in the water with 



only the italic projecting out of it, whilft all the remaining part 



was immerfed under its furface, and others with the italic 



under water, and the fmall roots above its furface. I did not 



find that the germination made any progrefs with thofe which 



had their (talk under water ; but thofe whofe (talks were in 



contact, with the air thrived and advanced in growth, and jn 



a few days time the plant was developed. 



Thus oxigen, or vital air, is neceifary to germination, fince Germination 



the tender plant cannot thrive and grow without its immediate ^^ ^SJ| 



contact. Thus we fee, that though it has received life by the but vegetation 



effect of germination, it cannot prefer ve it unlefs it be in con- cannot procee* 



6 ' r ■ without it* 



tact, with the air at this part ; that is to (ay, at the italk, which 



poflfefles an organifation adapted to receive its benign in- 

 fluence, which is neceflary to the fupport of life. The ger- 

 mination commences without the immediate contact of oxigen, 

 but it cannot become vegetation, if I may fo exprefs my- - » 

 felf, without its immediate contact. It feems, that in order 

 to animate the germen or embryo of plants, and give it life, 

 by means of the circulation and other functions, combined 

 oxigen is fufficieijt, but that it cannot afterwards fubfiit, if this 

 element in a free and pure ilate is wanting to the tender 

 plant 



In fact, as I have already remarked, and as I have obferved 

 itill better in the fubfequent experiments, the feeds begin to 

 germinate under the water, but their germination ceafes and 

 proceeds no farther, unlefs the air receive the plant already 

 born, or the animated germen. But germination is not ef- 

 fected under water unlefs in a certain cafe. 



I felected a number of good feeds or grains of wheat ; fome But no germina- 

 of which I put into a plate, and poured in as much water as fejjffi* jju 

 was precifeiy neceflary to cover them ; others I put into a be expofed to the 

 deeper veifel, and covered them with a larger quantity of alr » &c * 

 water; others I put into a glafs, and covered them with a 

 large quantity of water; and % laitly, I put others into a bottle 

 with a narrow neck, and covered them fo that the water 

 reached to the neck of the veflel. After twenty-four hours, 

 I found that the feeds in the iirit and iecond veflel had begun 

 to germinate, but none of thofe in either of the two laft veileU 

 germinated, nor did they afterwards. 



3 Hence 



