48 FOOD OF THE VEGETATING PLANT. CHAP. L 



subjected to a chemical analysis, the result of which 

 was, that the carbo contained in each was some- 

 what less than the quantity which existed in the 

 bulb or seed from which the plant had sprung.* 

 From this singular and unexpected result Hassen- 

 fratz concluded, as he was no doubt well entitled, 

 that water is not the sole food of plants ; because 

 plants vegetating in pure water receive no accession 

 of carbon, without which they cannot produce 

 perfect seeds. 



pedi-.ced But although this conclusion is certainly right, 

 nedus^re- y e ^ ^ le premises from which it is deduced are as 

 mnes, certainly wrong ; and yet they seem to have been 

 admitted by some phytological inquirers who were 

 no doubt well qualified to judge of their value. 

 But at this rate we must believe that Du Hamel's 

 Oak of eight years old, and Van Helmont's Willow 

 that was increased in weight by upwards of lOOlb., 

 contained no more carbon, even including all the 

 leaves that fell annually, than the original acorn 

 or original plant; and we must believe that the 

 seeds of aquatics contain as much carbon as the 

 plants they produce, together with all their seeds, 

 which is an absurdity. Senebier saw the impossi- 

 bility of admitting the premises, and rejected them ; 

 Which but Saussure put them again to the test of ex- 

 rejects^ periment. Having gathered some plants of the 

 Mentha piperita, he found that 100 parts in weight 

 of the green vegetable substance were reduced by 

 * Annal. de Chim. vol. xiii. p. 178. 



