ABSORPTION OP LEAVES. 193 



well, or better, l)y their foot-stalks as by 

 their upper surfaces. Hazel-nut and Rose 

 leaves, when laid with their backs upon the 

 water, imbibe sufliciently 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 experi- 

 ments should be careful to choose fuU-^rown 

 healthy leaves, all as nearly as possible of 

 the same age and vigour. It is also desn*able 

 that the precise species of plant should be 

 recorded by its scientific name. For want of 

 this, Bonnet, who despised method and no- 

 menclature, has left us in uncertainty con- 

 cerning several of the plants he examii ed. 

 We ought to have been accurately informed 

 what species of Poplar differed so remarkably 

 in its power of absorption from the Aspen, 

 another of the same genus. We ought like- 

 wise to have been told what Sun-flower, what 

 Nettle, Amaranth and Mallows were exa- 

 mined ; for want of which information the 

 authority of such experiments is much im- 

 paired. 



From the foregoing observations we learn 

 o 



