5 
GROWTH OF PLANTS IN CLOSED GLASS VESSELS. 501 
Report from Mr. James YATEs, as one of the Committee for 
making experiments on the Growth of Plants under Glass, 
and without any free communication with the outward air, 
on the plan of Mr. N. I Ward, of London. 
Reports on the subject of the Growth of Plantsin closed Glass 
Vessels. 
Havine corresponded with the other members of the Committee, 
and ascertained that they agreed with me in wishing for the 
preparation of an experiment on a considerable scale, which 
might be exhibited at the meeting of the British Association in 
Liverpool, I gave instructions for the erection of a greenhouse 
in the yard of the Mechanics’ Institute, in Mount Street. The 
committee of that establishment granted for the purpose the use 
of a convenient spot of ground 9 feet by 18 in dimensions, and 
with a southern aspect. It was stocked with foreign plants of 
all kinds to the amount of about 80 species, and placed under 
the care of Mr. Murray, the foreman of the Botanic Garden at 
Liverpool. His list of the plants, and his observations upon 
their state and progress, accompany this report. The general 
~ result of the experiment is, that the plants have flourished per- 
fectly well, being in a vigorous and healthy state without any 
extraordinary growth. Many of them have flowered, and some 
_ of them, especially two species of Canna and some ferns, have 
_ ripened seed. 
The greenhouse has no flue, and no provision for any artificial 
heat. It was judged best to construct it without a flue, both as 
the least expensive plan, and for the purpose of trying by a fair 
experiment to what extent plants may on this plan be kept alive 
even during the severity of winter, which would certainly die if 
fresh air were more freely admitted. 
It is also to be observed that nothing has been done to pre- 
vent the water from escaping through the porous rock (a yel- 
low sandstone) on which the greenhouse is erected, and hence 
it has been necessary to give the plants occasionally a fresh sup- 
ply of water. : 
Since I was appointed one of this Committee I have also grown 
plants under glass in London, where no plant can be made to 
flourish without such a protection. Nearly a year ago I planted 
Lycopodium denticulatum in a chemical preparation-glass with 
aground stopper. During that time the bottle has never been 
opened. The Lycopodium continues perfectly healthy, and has 
grown very much, alihough for want of space the form of the 
plant is distorted. Seeds, which happened to be in the soil, 
VOL. VI. 1837 2 
