100 OF THE INORGANIC 



an invariable number can be found to express the 

 quantity of oxygen which each species of plant con- 

 tains in the bases united with organic acids. In 

 all probability, such inquiries will lead to most im- 

 portant results ; for it is clear, that if the production 

 of a certain unchanging quantity of an organic 

 acid is required by the peculiar nature of the organs 

 of a plant, and is necessary to its existence, then 

 potash or lime must be taken up by it, in order to 

 form salts with this acid ; that if these do not 

 exist in sufficient quantity in the soil, other bases 

 must supply their place ; and that the progress of a 

 plant must be wholly arrested when none are 

 present. 



Seeds of the Salsola Kali, when sown in common 

 garden soil, produce a plant containing both potash 

 and soda ; while the plants grown from the seeds of 

 this contain only salts of potash, with mere traces @f 

 muriate of soda. (Cadet.) 



The existence of vegetable alkalies in combina- 

 tion with organic acids gives great weight to the 

 opinion, that alkaline bases in general are connected 

 with the development of plants. 



If potatoes are grown where they are not supplied 

 with earth, the magazine of inorganic bases, (in 

 cellars for example), a true alkali, called Solanin, of 

 very poisonous nature, is formed in the sprouts 

 which extend towards the light, while not the 

 smallest trace of such a substance can be discovered 

 in the roots, herbs, blossoms, or fruits of potatoes 



