384 Bibliography. 
“T could not but be struck with the circumstance of one of that very tribe “a 
pines which I had for years Amivensiy attempted to cultivate, coming up spon 
n such a situation ; and asked myself seriously what were the conditions ne- 
4thly, moisture :—and lastly, change of air. It was quite evident that the plants 
pains obtain light and heat as well in the bottle as out of it; and that the lid which 
retained the moisture likewise excluded the soot. The only remaining condition 
to be fulfilled was the change of air; and how was this to be effected? When I 
published my account in the “ Companion to the Botanical Magazine,” I overlook- 
ed the law respecting the diffusion of gaseous bodies, described in the preceding 
Pang and alte sn thie bane: was sspeoduced by the variotions of Aengniae 
a which of course AE ite acertain but very limited effec 
“Thus, then, all the conditions necessary for the growth of my little plant were 
apparently falfilled, and it remained only to put it to the test of experiment. I 
placed the bottle entiide the window of my study, a room facing the north, and to 
my great delight the plants continued to grow well. They turned out to be Las- 
trea Filiz-mas and Poa annua. They required no attention, the same circulation 
of the water continuing ; and here they remained for nearly four years, the Poa 
once flowering, and the fern producing three or four fronds annually. At the end 
of this time they accidentally perished, during my absence from home, in conse- 
quence of the rusting of the lid, and the admission of rain water. Long before 
this occurred, however, I sisenred for the purposes of experiment some plants of 
hyllum and Trichomanes ; and per haps the most instructive way in which 
I can communicate the results of my enquiries will be to select a few out of num- 
berless experiments, in the order in which they occurred.” 
We had marked for extract the descriptive list of the plants which 
were the subjects of Mr. Ward’s experiments ; but are obliged to omit 
it, as we have already exceeded the limits of this notice. 
Residing in one of the darkest parts of London, and exposed to the 
‘“‘ vapor of smoke” and soot which ee envelopes that metropo- 
lis, within whose limits not even a moss will fructify in the open air, 
(with the exception of Funaria tetany which is known to have 
an especial fondness for charcoal,) our excellent author has thus caused 
his favorite plants to flourish around him, for his own gratification, 4 
to the admiration of those who have been privileged to witness his co 
plete triumph over obstacles long deemed insurmountable. With cca 
advantage, but with greater facility, may Mr. Ward’s plan be applied 
to parlor-culture in this country, where light is abundant, the atmosphere 
: m soot, and we have only to gonzl against cold, the excessive 
dryness of the air in winter, and the exhalations of sulphurous acid gas 
‘from coal fires, which when present in such minute proportions as to be 
3 ppre ne to our senses, are yet highly era to plants 
ona Bees sppiintion sf has ipl at of 
