ABSORPTION OP LEAVES. igl 



philosopher, six hved nearly as long uith 

 one surface applied to the water as with the 

 other; these were the common Ariun macu^ 

 latum, the French Bean, the Sun-flower, 

 Cabbage, Spinach and the Small Mallows 

 By the last I presume is meant Malva ro- 

 tuncUfoUa, Engl. Bof. t. 109'^. Six others. 

 Plantain, White Mullein, the Great Mallow 

 (iprohMy M.ST/Ivestr is, t.67l), the Nettle, 

 Cock's-comb, and Purple-leaved Amaranth 

 (probably Amaranthus hypochondriacus), 

 lived longest with their upper surface laid 

 upon the water. The Nettle lived but three 

 "weeks with its under surface on the water, 

 and about two months in a contrary position. 

 The Mullein scarcely survived five or six 

 days, and the Amaranth not a week, in the 

 first-mentioned posture, while the leaves of 

 the former remained in vigour about five 

 Aveeks, and of the latter three months, when 

 their upper surfaces imbibed the water. 

 Marvel of Peru and Balm, the two remain- 

 ing plants of the fourteen on w hicli the ex- 

 periment was made, had also an evident ad- 

 vantage in receiving that fluid by their upper 

 surfaces. The leaves of some of the above 



