Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 537 



The author infers, from his researches on the subject of his second 

 paper, that during the process of germination there is a production 

 of alcoliol, and that oxygen unites with olefiant gas, untler tlie influ- 

 ence of the radicle and plumula. He accounts for the increase of 

 temperature during germination by an alleged difference in the spe- 

 cific heats of the priticipies before and after that process has com- 

 menced ; but the methods he employed for establishing the reality of 

 this diiference are not detailed. 



The following are the principal conclusions to which the author 

 arrives ; 



1 . Seeds may, by careful desiccation, be deprived of much water 

 without injuring their vegetating organs. 



2. Their capacity for absorbing water varies with the temperature 

 at which they are kept. 



3. The increase taking place in their volume by the absorption of 

 water is influenced by temperature. 



4. On steeping seeds in water at one temperature the vinous fer- 

 mentation takes place, but at another this process does not occur. 



.1. A decomposition takes place in seeds previously to their germi- 

 nation, and the products are carbonic acid and olefiant gas. 



6. The abstraction of carbon from seeds by the oxygen of the at- 

 mosphere is not, as is generally supposed, the specific action which 

 gives rise to germination ; but it rather conduces to putrefaction. 



7. The germination of seeds appears to be an action taking place 

 between the olefiant gas, which has been previously formed by a vinous 

 fermentation, and the oxygen of the atmosphere; and is effected by 

 the peculiar operation of the plumula and the rootlets. 



8. This decomposition and combination of the different elements 

 go on, in well-regulated processes, as long as there is any farinaceous 

 matter to be decomposed : the food of the plant being at this time 

 always the oxygen of the atmosphere and the newly-formed olefiant 

 gas, differing in equivalent combinations, according to the peculiar 

 constitution of the plant; and thus the foundation is laid for all that 

 prodigious diversity which characterizes the numberless species of the, 

 vegetable creation. 



Intelligence and Miscelhmeons Articles. 



ARTIFlfclAL PRODUCTION OF CRYSTALLIZED MINERALS. 



MUCH interest and inquiry have been excited by the experiments 

 of Mr. Crosse on the artificial production of crystallized mine- 

 rals in the humid way, by the agency of electricity, as announced by 

 that gentleman at the late meeting of the British Association, and no- 

 ticed in our number for September, at p. 229 of the present volume. 

 We think it may be useful to recall the attention of our readers to 

 the results which had previously been obtained by others, both in 

 the humid and the dry way, in the same line of research, by trans- 

 ferring to our pages the following extract from the Rev. Mr. Whe- 

 weli's " Report on the Itecciil Profrress and Present State of Miner a- 

 Tliird Series. Vol. 9. No. :>7- Supplement. Dec. 183(J. 3T 



