FUNCTION.] MURIATIC ACID. 313 



received nearly five drachms of concentrated muriatic acid, 

 and the other plant more than half an ounce of carbonate of 

 soda. Under this mode of treatment both plants continued 

 to thrive and nourish, and the blossoms were large and perfect, 

 those formed by the plant treated with muriatic acid being 

 rather the more forward of the two : they were, however, both 

 of the same colour, nearly blue, although it was believed that 

 had they been left untouched, the blossoms would have been 

 pink. It is evident that the acid would have a tendency to 

 render certain matters in the soil more soluble than others, 

 whilst the carbonate of soda would have an opposite effect ; 

 the acid would render lime, magnesia, bases, and metallic 

 oxides more soluble, whilst the carbonate of soda would faci- 

 litate the solution of silica, acids, and organic substances in 

 the soil. 



"During the progress of these experiments, two facts 

 worthy of record were observed: the one was, that some 

 plants are able to absorb a large quantity of muriatic acid ; 

 and secondly, that great influence is exerted on the rate of 

 evaporation of the leaves, by the substances absorbed from 

 the soil. I was surprised to find how very large a quantity 

 of this acid the plants were able to take up, and that so far 

 from producing bad effects they flourish under its influence. 

 The greatest quantity which I gave was from one-fifth to one- 

 fourth of a drachm of strong acid to the plant per day of 

 course dissolved in a larger quantity of water, but still so 

 strong as to be about as sour to the taste as common 

 vinegar." 



We cannot but regard this as a highly curious result. It 

 is, however, the more remarkable as being connected with a 

 fact for which there seems no explanation. When plants are 

 fed with muriatic acid, their rate of perspiration is checked. 

 "Thus/' says Mr. Solly, "when two Hydrangeas, the one 

 watered with acid, the other with carbonate of soda, were placed 

 under the same circumstances, and watered with three ounces 

 of water each, the one watered with the alkaline solution 

 began to fade, and seemed parched up by heat in the middle 

 of the day ; whilst the other remained crisp and fresh-looking. 

 Subsequently it received five ounces of water daily, but even 



