198 NOTICES OF THE MEETINGS [May 14, 
atmospheres is producible by albumen.—There are those who 
regard capillarity and endosmosis as modifications of the same 
attractive force existing beween solids and liquids. But different 
conditions are required. Capillarity is a statical effect, and so 
differs from the double current of endosmosis and exosmosis. 
2. In applying these phenomena to the vegetable organism, it 
was noticed that plants have no particular vessels carrying nutrient 
fluids, but their open tubular structure is a condition favorable to ca- 
pillarity. Plants have ducts, and so called vessels; but the latter, 
except at certain times, contain air, and are not in connection with 
the stomata. The fulness of the ducts is due to capillarity. The 
structure of plants is favourable to endosmosis: the life of a 
cell involves an act of it. It is promoted by the thickening of 
the cell contents due to evaporation and other causes, and new 
materials are furnished by the lighter fluids surrounding the cells. 
The fine extremities of the roots are in the condition of the 
interposed membrane, and thus we have conditions of endosmosis — 
a vessel with organic sides, an exterior liquid capable of being 
imbibed by this tissue, and an internal liquid also capable of being 
imbibed by this tissue, of mixing with the exterior liquid, and per- 
meating the tissues. The force detected at the root appears 
throughout the system; and it is obvious that the contiguity of 
the cells to each other is promotive of an interchange of contents 
by endosmosis. Juices may be collected from plants by boring ; 
and while the sap movements are active, the higher the bore the 
thicker the juice: and albumen, the fluid most forcible in endos- 
mosis, is closely connected with proteine compounds found in 
developing cells. The more active the development, the denser 
the fluid; insoluble starch is found in the cells when store is re- 
quired, and when nutrition is active it is changed into gum, 
dextrine, and sugar. The nature of the cells, vessels, &c. spoken 
of was illustrated by diagrams. 
3. In proceeding to the third point it was observed that the 
movements under present consideration were not rotations or mere 
movements of cell contents, nor could they be regarded as having 
any analogy with the circulation of animal fluids through arteries 
and veins. They are the movements by which nutrient fluids are 
conveyed to the organs of development. To aid in this conveyance 
two agencies appear, endosmosis and capillarity. If at any one 
time all the cells of a tissue contain a fluid of equal density, endos- 
mosis takes place in those which come into immediate proximity to 
water, which dilutes their fluids and sets up the conditions of endos~ 
mosis between them and the next cells. Where evaporation is most 
active, there is the greatest concentration of sap; therefore the stream 
is towards the green partsand buds. The rise of the sap, generally, 
may be regarded as effected by the increased density of the fluids as 
they approach the seat of the evaporating process. Curious experi- 
ments by Mr. Lawes, which were detailed by the aid of drawings, 
