44 EVOLUTION AND GROWTH. 



with distilled water, were sown the seeds whose weight was known 

 By a number of preliminary trials, the quantity of moisture which 

 seed of the same kind, of the same growth, and taken at the same 

 moment, lost by drying, commenced in the stove and finished in an 

 oil-bath, at 110" C. ("230^ Fahr.) was ascertained. The porcelain 

 vessels, in which the experiment was conducted, were placed in a 

 glass house at the end of a large garden. During the whole term, 

 the windows were kept closed ; but the sun shone on the house all 

 day. To remove the produce, the vessels were dried by a gentle 

 heat. The roots of the plants then came out readily ; to free them 

 completely from any adhering sand, they were njoved about in a little 

 distilled water, but never rubbed or bruised, tor fear of loss ; it seem- 

 ed even preferable to leave a little sand adhering. The harvest was 

 then dried in the stove, so that it might be powdered ; and the com- 

 plete desiccation was etfected in the oil-bath in vacuo. 



In ascertaining previously by muneration the weight of the ashes 

 contained in the seed, that of the produce, freed from all saline and 

 earthy matter, became exactly known. 



Elementary analysis then proclaimed the composition of the pro- 

 duce ; and it was only necessary now to compare it with the com- 

 position of the seed, to have ascertained the proportion and the 

 nature of the elements which had been assimilated during the vege- 

 tation. 



FIRST EXPERIMENT. 



CULTURE OF RED CLOVER DURING THREE .MONTHS. 



In the beginning of August a quantity of seed was sown, which, 

 being dry and free from "ashes, would have weighed 1.586 gramme, 

 or '24.48 grs. trov. The crop presented a very good appearance ; 

 the clover was from three to three and a half inches in height. The 

 largest leaves could be included in a circle of about tw(» indies in 

 diameter. The length of the roots varied between two and four 

 inches. Dried and bruised, the color of the produce was a deep 

 green. 



The plant gathered quite dry, and supposed free from ash, weighed 

 4.106 grammes, or 63.38 grs. troy ; analysis showed it to consist of — 



In ihf S«eJ. In ihe Pr»Juc«. 



CarlMMi MS 50.7 



Hydrogen fi.O 6.6 



Azote 7.2 3.8 



Oxygen 3(kO 38.9 



100.0 100.0 



RESULTS. 



C«r^on. Hrvlrof^n. OlTr»n. Aintt. 



24.4X grs. trey containing artrr the analysis 12.-M 1.466 8.815 1.759 



63.38 ' " " •- . 32.141 4. 183 24. 15 5 2.406 



38.00 = gn. during cultivaUon ... +19.70 +27717 +15.840 +0.649 



Thus, in the course of three months, the elementary matter of the 

 •eed had nearly doubled, and the azote of the plants gathered showi 



