14. British Association for the Advancement of Science. 
grew probably as well as they would have done in a green-house 
or hot-house. 'They were all foreign, and some of them requir- 
ing a great heat. Several had ripened seed. 
Mr. Gray stated, that he had grown Droseras under glass jars ; 
one circumstance with regard to them he thought worthy of re- 
mark, their leaves did not turn red, as is usual when exposed to 
the atmosphere. Prof. Graham observed, that although in Mr. 
Ward’s experiments atmospheric air had been admitted, he did 
not think it essential to the welfare of the plant. Plants grown 
in this manner only required a glass large enough to contain a 
sufficient quantity of air, to permit of the absorption of oxygen 
without deteriorating the air of the vessel to such an extent as to 
injure the plant. The want of red in the leaves of Drosera, he 
thought, depended on the presence of moisture. A singular point 
was, that plants growing naturally in arid soils and climates, flour- 
ished in the humid and confined atmosphere of the closed jars. 
He had placed under jars completely closed some plants of Cacti, 
which had flourished more than those not so situated. He did 
not think that animals could be sustained in the same manner, as 
they consumed all the oxygen which they inspired.—Dr. 'Tra- 
vers remarked, that he had seen common mould, which was a 
species of fungus, in a tube which had been heated and hermeti- 
~~ sealed for two years.—Mr. Bowman had observed at the 
2 of Devonshire’s, Chatsworth, that Droseras did not under 
aie jars change the color of their leaves as in open air. He 
wished to know of Dr. Graham, how long his Cacti had lived in 
a moist atmosphere; they were naturally at certain seasons of the 
year exposed to heavy rains. He thought it was very possible 
for plants and animals to live together.—Mr. Duncan inquired if 
plants were healthy, and fit to be transplanted to the open aif 
when treated in this manner.—Professor Graham stated, that the 
Cacti had lived without access to air eighteen months. He 
believed that plants and animals might live together, provided 
the vessel in which they were inclosed was sufficiently large to 
enable the plants to absorb the carbonic acid gas expired by the 
animals. This would be a representation in miniature of what 
takes place in our own world.—Prof. Lindley, in reply to Mr- 
Bowman’s question, stated, that plants suffered little when con- 
rie = sear From improper treatment they 
may become debi he had seen them arrive from for- 
2 =. : 
Og ete 
