ON WATER AND WATERING PLANTS. 223 



and lively ; and having taken the weight of each, he placed it in 

 a phial, ordered as above ; and as the plant imbibed and drew off 

 the water, he added more from time to time, keeping an account 

 of the weight of all he added. 



"Each of the glasses were, for the better distinction and the 

 more easy keeping a register noted with a different mark or letter 

 as A, B, C, &c. and all set in a row in the same window, that 

 they might all partake alike of the air, light and sun. 



Thus they continued from July the twentieth, to October the 

 fifth, which was just seventy seven days ; then he took them out 

 and weighed the water in each phial, and the plant also, adding 

 to its weight that of all the leaves which had fallen off during the 

 time it stood thus. And lastly, he computed how much every 

 plant had gained, and how much water was spent upon it. The 

 particulars are as follows. 



"A. a common spear mint set in spring water. 



" When the plant was put in, in July the twentieth, it weighed 

 just twenty-four grains; when taken out, October the fifth, it 

 weighed forty two grains ; so that in the space of seventy seven 

 days, it had gained in weight fifteen grains. 



" The whole quantity of water expended during the seventy 

 seven days amounted to two-thousand-five-hundred and fifty- 

 eight grains ; and consequently, the weight of the water taken up 

 was one-hundred and seventy and three-thirteens times as much 

 as the plant had got in weight. 



" B, common spear mint set in rain water, the mint weighed 

 when put in, twenty eight grains and a half, and when it was 

 taken out forty five grains four thirds, having gained in seventy 

 seven days seventeen grains and an half. 



"The whole quantity of water expended was three thousand 

 and four grains which was an hundred and seventy one twenty- 

 three thirty-fives times as much as the plant had received in 

 weight. 



"C, common spearmint set in Thames water. The plant when 

 put in weighed twenty eight grains, when taken out fifty four 

 grains, so that in seventy seven, days it had gained twenty six 

 grains. 



' The whole of the water expended, amounting to two 

 thousand four hundred ninety three grains which was ninety 

 five, twenty-three twenty-six times as much as the additional 

 weight of the mint. 



