ABSORPTIOX OF LEAVES. 159 



tcr when their stalks only were immersed in water, than 

 when either of their sides was s'upplied with it, and the 

 reverse was observable in several others ; but the White 

 Mullein, the Plantain and the Amaranth survived lon- 

 ger when they received the water by their stalk than by 

 their under surface, though not so long as when it was 

 applied to their upper sides. 



Of sixteen trees tried by Bonnet, the Lilac and the 

 Aspen, Populus tremula, were the only leaves that 

 seemed to imbibe water equally well by either surface, 

 whilst all the others evidently succeeded best with their 

 under sides laid upon the water being in that respect 

 the reverse of herbaceous plants. Of these the White 

 Mulberry leaf was the most remarkable, not living more 

 than five days when supplied by the upper surface, 

 while such as floated on their backs continued in per- 

 fection near six months. The Vine, the Poplar (prob- 

 ably Populus nigra), and the Walnut, were no less re- 

 markable, for fading almost as soon, when fed by their 

 upper surface, as when left without any water at all. 

 Many of the other trees imbibed water as well, or bet- 

 ter, by their foot-stalks as by their upper surfaces. Ha- 

 zel-nut and Rose leaves, when laid with their backs up- 

 on the water, imbibe sufficiently to nourish other leaves 

 on the same branch ; so will one leaflet of a French bean 

 supply its neighbour that does not touch the water. 



Those who wish to repeat these experiments should 

 be careful to choose full-grown healthy leaves, all as 

 nearly as possible of the same age and vigour. It is 

 also desirable that the precise species of plant should be 

 recorded by its scientific name. For want of thisjBonnet, 

 who despised method and nomenclature, has left us in 



