234 STIMULANT EFFECTS of CAMPHOR 



I have made feveral other experiments relative to the 

 efFecls of camphor upon plants. But I do not think it 

 neceffary to be particular as to the individual appearances 

 produced by this fubftance. In every inflance, it W2ls 

 evident, that the camphor adled as a powerful and whole- 

 feme Rimulant upon the plants. Thus a ftalk of yellow 

 Iris, with one expanded flower, was taken out of a vial of 

 water, in which it had been placed, for upwards of a 

 day. The flower had begun to droop. A very few 

 minutes after I had placed it in a vial, of the fame fize, 

 containing a few grains of camphor, the flower began to 

 revive, and continued in a vigorous ftate for many 

 hoiu-s. 



As camphor is but very fparingly foluble in water, it 

 is obvious to conclude, that the ftimulant effedls which 

 I have obferved were produced by a very fmall part of 

 the quantity which, in my experiments, v/as triturated 

 with the water. 



It is evident, from wliat I have feen, and related, that 

 camphor exerts a confiderable ftimulant effeO. upon 

 plants ; greater, I think, than any other fubftance I am 

 acquainted with. This difcovery might induce us to 

 make trials with camphor, as a manure, if it w^ere not 

 certain that the cxpence of the manure Avill prevent us 

 from making the experiment upon a large fcale. But may 

 we not apply the camphor, in the manner I have men- 

 tioned, to ufeful purpofes ? A few grains of camphor, 

 adting as a cordial, will revive a drooping plant, will 

 increafe its beauty, and prolong its exiflience. In the 

 eye of the florifl:, thefe are objects of no mean import- 

 ance : why, then, {hould we not chearfully lend him 

 our afllftance, fince in an innocent and amiable purfuit, 

 he robs no one of his happinefs, and increafes his 

 own ? 



I have 



