1847.] DistrikiHon of Inorganic Matter in Vegetables. 183 



which it was the reverse. But in these instances, there were cir- 

 cumstances which went to diminish the force of the objection to 

 the general rule. They were either small trees, or were those of 

 which I was unable to procure examples in a green state. 



•9. The law which is expressed by the axial movement of the 

 inorganic matters, is by far the most important. It is by this law 

 that an annual return is made to the soil oi' the most important 

 matter, such as the phosphates and the alkalies. If these mat- 

 ters were allowed to be hoarded up in the trunk of the tree, 

 it would destroy by its own consumption, that food which 

 now serves to give it vigor for centui'ies. The leaf, and the nut 

 or seed, which is charged with the alkalies and phosphates, falls 

 beneath the spreading branches and in the immediate reach of the 

 roots: they decay annually, and thus furnish a re-supply of these 

 most important elements. 



So the bark, which contains a great store of inorganic matter, 

 in many instances falls of!" and rots, and yields up its storehouse 

 of inorganic food to the still growing vegetable. These beauti- 

 ful arrangements, whii'h are designed to secure perpetuity to the 

 pines and oaks, ought not to be overlooked or forgotten. The 

 useless rind of the walnut or butternut, contains much potash; 

 but it is speedily prepared by decay, to return and circulate 

 through the vital organs. In this arrangement, we see too 

 how solubility operates in the distribution of the inorganic mat- 

 ter. The most soluble, as the alkalies and chlorides, go to the 

 organs which annually perish; or in other words, they are distri- 

 buted to the periphery of the vegetable, and hence are enabled to 

 circulate annually in the sap of the individual. Such appear to 

 be some of the beautiful arrangements which are established 

 in the distribution of the inorganic matter. First, there is an 

 accumulation of the most important elements in the seed: this 

 is eifected by the axial movements of the sap or food, which has 

 been referred to. And, second, a m^ovement towards the periphery 

 of the trunk, where the next most important actions are going 

 on, and which continues to administer to the life of the individual. 

 The formation of the annual layer may be regarded as the pro- 

 duction of the individual referred to. Nature is sometimes lavish 

 on herself, where a large amount of food is easily obtained, and 

 the individual luxuriates without regard to the extension of the 

 species. When, however, the existence of the individual is threat- 

 ened, it puts forth efforts to renew the species, by restricting the 

 growth of wood and leaves. She expends all her energies in 

 the production of fruit. 



10. Before I proceed to give the analyses which have been 

 made in my laboratory, I will off"er one remark on the condition 

 of the inorganic matter of vegetables. It is impossible, it is true, 



