1835.] on Malt. 301 



is operated will be readily understood by a comparison of 

 the constitution of these substances : 



From this table we can readily see reason for the facility 

 with which starch is converted into gum and sugar ; for, 

 if we mix 1 part of malt, coarsely ground, with 2 parts 

 of starch and 4 of water, adding 14 of boiling water, and 

 place the mixture so as to prevent too rapid cooling, the 

 liquid tastes very sweet in the course of an hour. 



The alterations which are produced in the atmosphere 

 surrounding the grain during these operations are impor- 

 tant, and are well illustrated by the late experiments of 

 Saussure.f He observed, in all his results, that, in ger- 

 mination, azote is uniformly absorbed. Hence, the reason 

 is obvious why plants do not vegetate so rapidly in water as 

 in the open air, after having been steeped in that fluid. 

 324 grains of wheat, previously steeped for 24 hours in rain 

 water, were placed in atmospheric air in a close vessel : 

 They began to germinate in 17 hours, and, in 21 hours, an 

 examination of the air gave the following results : — 



be;fore experiment. after experiment. 

 Azote . . 9-079 cubic inches. Azote . . 9-047 cub. in. 

 Oxygen . 2-431 „ Oxygen . . 2-283 „ 

 Carbonic acid 0-150 



11-510 



11-480 

 In this experiment -032 azot6 appears to have been ab- 

 sorbed, and -143 oxygen has been removed. Now, the 

 carbonic acid produced consists of 109 oxygen, +-041 car- 

 bon. Hence, '034 oxygen must have been absorbed. In 

 other cases, however, it was found that the carbonic acid 

 exceeded the quantity of oxygen consumed. Germination 

 takes place more rapidly in oxygen than in common air, as 

 is proved by the following experiment of Saussure : four peas, 



* Brunner has lately analyzed starch, and found its composition, oxygen 49*428, 

 carbon 44-095, hydrogen 6-477. 100 parts of starch, boiled with sulphuric acid 

 and water, were converted into 107-01 parts of dry sugar. — Pogg. i4-«n. xxiv. 328. 



t Ann. des Sciences Nat. for Nov. 1834. 



