I6z hijluence of Oxygen on the Germination of Seech. 



From this experiment it appears, according to the calcula- 

 tion more fiillv given above, that during the procefs of gcr- 

 tnination i' i6 cubic inches of oxygen gas difappeared and 

 uxre einploved for the bafis of 2'Oj cul)ic inches of carbonic 

 acid gas, which was found in the atmofpherc of the feeds. 

 T\\\s refult approaches near to that given by the compofition 

 of this gas. 



But to obtain this refult the feeds mufi: all germinate, and 

 ihey mud be in Immediate contacl with the atmofpheric air. 

 When they do not germinate, either becaufe they are placed 

 too clofe to each other, are of a bad quality, or have too 

 much water over them, the quantity of the carbonic acid 

 <'-as formed will be rrcatcr than that produced bv the union 

 of the oxvgen gas taken from the aiaiofphere with the car- 

 bon of the feeds. Befides, the experiment muft be finiflied 

 before all the oxvgen gas contained in the atmnfphere of the 

 feeds has been converted into carbonic acid gasj for without 

 this precaution the plants would be injured and decompofed, 

 and a greater quantity of carbonic acid gas would be found 

 in their atmofphere than would othcrvvife be the cafe. 



The formation of fugar in the feeds by the aftion of fo- 

 reign oxygen gas is a very lingular phenomenon which I 

 will not venture to explain ; I fhall only remark, that from 

 the above experiments the following conclufions may be 

 drawn : 



1. The oxvcren of the atmofpherc is abforbed during the 

 procefs of germination, not by the feeds, as hitherto fcems to 

 have been admitted, but is employed merely in forming car- 

 bonic acid gas with the carbon of the feeds. 



2. The germinating feeds when in conta6l with the air 

 do not form carbonic acid gas from their own fubftance, but 

 only furnilh a component part of it, cis. carbon. Tiiey 

 vleld, however, from their own fubllance, the oxygen and 

 carbon of the carbonic acid gas, formed when the feeds are 

 in contadl with water and pure azotic gas. 



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