RECENT KESEAECHES ON THE RESPIRATION OF PLANTS. 



215 



respiratory activity is well marked, or, in other words, and other 

 circumstances being the same, as the oxygen consumed in a given 

 time is greater. 



In order that the results might be as trustworthy as possible, 

 the accurate tests pointed out by MM. Warentrapp and Will 

 were employed in the first instance, and afterwards the not less 

 accurate one of M. Millon was used to correct any error that 

 might have escaped notice. 



These results are sufficiently intelligible to render more than 

 one or two remarks unnecessary. It must be observed, however, 

 that the anunal matter of the buds, and especially that of the 

 young plants, is much more abundant than might have been sup- 

 posed, being, in the cases mentioned, no less than from 30 to 40 

 per cent. It is however possible that some unknown immediate 

 principle, different from the proteine substances, may to a 

 certain extent have furnished the azote which served for their 

 calculation. 



But although this may possibly have been so, the results 

 are sufficiently general to lead to the belief that it is not pro- 

 bable. Besides, in the contrary case, the more organic azotized 

 matters generally exist in such small quantities in plants that 

 they would scarcely influence the calculations which have been 

 made. 



