V. ORIGIN OF MOULD. 213 
put feveral hours in boiling water. In the fmal- 
le(t was no mould, a little in the middle fized, and 
plenty in the largeft. 
To thefe two experiments I added a third, by 
putting moulding fub{tances in vacuo; and re- 
peated refults proved that, during the time the 
fubftances were there, which was always feveral 
days, if by any chance a portion of air infinuated 
itfelf into the receiver, a quantity of mould ap- 
peared which came to maturity, though very 
fhort.. None ever germinated when the air was 
quite exhaufted. Some plantule, produced in 
a receiver where the vacuum was incomplete. 
are reprefented, Plate 5. fig. 5. 
Thefe three different experiments ee ieai 
that the plantulz have the fame relation with the 
air as other plants, but it is apparently lefs ne- 
ceflary to them; for when a thread of air enter- 
ed the receivers, fome mould vegetated, yet the 
leguminous feeds within gave no indications of 
vegetation ; neither do feeds vegetate in vefiels 
hermetically fealed, although vegetables will 
mould there. The fimplicity of mould un- 
doubtedly contributes to render the prefence 
of air lefs effential, in the fame way as animals, 
which are lefs compound in the f{eale of organi- 
zation, may be. produced, and exift in a finaller 
quanary of air than is neceflary for us. | 
g 03 M, 
