Sufpended Ammation in Vegetables. 51 1 



ad. This analogy appears to be a neceffary provifion in the inftance under con- 

 fideration, which enables a certain defcription of organic beings belonging to both king- 

 doms, to accommodate themfelves to the viciffitudes of a lituation variable in its nature, 

 and to preferve not only the life of the individual, but perhaps the exiftence of the 

 fpecies, by fubmitting to a temporary death, or more properly a compleat fufpenfion of 

 animation. 



The feeds of land plants, which germinate on the furface of the ground, being expofed 

 to the inconveniences of the weather, in common with aquatic plants growing in {hallow 

 ponds, are provided with the fame principle of accommodation to infure their fafety. The 

 exiftence of this falutary property is confirmed by experiment ; but our knowledge of the 

 nature of vegetables is as yet too limited to difcover the Angularity of conftitution from 

 which it refults ; we fee the wifdom of the contrivance, but cannot invcftigate the 

 caufe. 



4th. The peculiarity of conftitution, which diftinguiflics viviparous plants appears to be 

 this : germs of this defcription begin to fprout when their feed lobes have imbibed a quan- 

 tity of humidity too fmall to fuffice in common cafes ; for which reafon they frequently 

 vegetate on the ftem of the parent plant. 



This opinion is corrobated by the following fafts : * 



ift. All feeds germinate when placed in the air, having their lobes faturated with water: 

 on the contrary, they begin to rot when the quantity abforbed by them is too little. 



2d. The proportion of water required to produce faturation, in equal weights of 

 different feeds, is different. 



3d. Some plants, fuch as the polygonium viviparuni, are only viviparous in wet 

 feafons. 



I am, SIR, 



Your's, &c. 



JOHN GOUGH. 



VIII. 



ExtraB of a Letter from DoBor G. Af. to Dr. William Babington, dated Freiberg, Dee. 1 7, 

 1800. On the State of Galvanifm and other fcientijic Purfuits in Germany. Communicated 

 by Dr. Bahsgtos. 



My Dear. Doctor, 



X HAVE long been waiting for an opportunity of making you fome return for the very 

 valuable and interefting intelligence in your laft, and now feize the earlieft occafion 

 of giving you fome account of the galvanic labours in Germany; not but that I think it 



poffible 



