SECT. I. WATER. 47 



sorb moisture;* so that, according to Mr. Kirwan's 

 remark, the earthen vessel in which the willow 

 was planted must have absorbed moisture from the 

 surrounding soil, impregnated with whatever sub- 

 stances the earth contained. The access of earth 

 therefore is accounted for without the joint efforts 

 of the water and vital energy of the plant, and no 

 satisfactory proof alleged of the similar formation of 

 other substances. 



The subject was afterwards investigated by Has- Inference 

 senfratz, who saw the insufficiency of the foregoing f ratz that 

 proofs, and objected to them because no account 

 was given of the proportions of carbon at the com- ^ 

 mencement and termination of the respective ex- 

 periments. Did not the carbon of the plant in- 

 crease also as well as its other ingredients ? And 

 yet the carbon could not be supposed to be formed 

 from the water. To clear up this point he analyzed 

 the bulbs of the Hyacinth and of several other 

 plants, together with a number of Kidney-beans, 

 and Cress-seeds, with a view to discover the quan- 

 tity of carbon they contained, and consequently 

 by calculation the quantity contained in any given 

 weight of similar bulbs or seeds. He then made 

 a number of each to vegetate in pure water, some 

 within doors, and others in the open air, having 

 first ascertained their weight. They germinated, 

 grew up, and flowered ; but produced no seed. 

 They were afterwards gathered, leaves and all, and 

 * Veg. Stat.vol. i. p. 5. 



