192 ABSaRPTION OF LEAVES. 



species were found to thrive better when theif 

 stalks only were immersed in water, than 

 when either of their sides was supphed with 

 it, and the reverse was observable in several 

 others ; but the White Mullein, the Plantain 

 and the Amaranth survived longer 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, Fopulus 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 perfection near six months. The Vine, the 

 Poplar (probably Fopulus Jiigra), and the 

 Walnut, were no less remarkable, for fading 

 almost as soon, when fed by their upper sur- 

 face, as when left without any water at all. 

 Man}^ of the other trees imbibed water as 



