114 . ' PHYSICAL EXPRESSION,. 



vigorously both in height and foliage than the 

 others ; and, after two months' growth, they were 

 much less sensitive than others planted in two- 

 thirds of silver sand and only one-third of leaf- 

 mould. One or two plants were grown entirely in 

 silver sand. These showed extreme sensitiveness 

 to the slightest touch ; even a breath of air, or the 

 slightest jerk of the pot in which they grew, caused 



<all the foliage to shut up. Those plants having no 

 nourishment beyond the gases in the air, or sand, 

 soon turned yellow and died. The plants in two- 

 thirds sand and one-third decayed vegetable mould 

 were not so robust or strong as those grown in a, 

 greater proportion of vegetable mould. They failed 



to produce any flowers, and died off at the lower 

 temperature to which all the plants were exposed, 

 whilst those planted in two-thirds vegetable mould 



iand one-third sand, fully matured their growth, 

 flowering in a temperature of 50 or 60 Fahr., the 



: foliage being of that full green colour denoting 

 the fact that the spongioles of the roots had neces- 

 sarily been supplied with the various chemical gases 

 in the soil (set free by a due amount of moisture) 

 requisite for producing the continued support of 

 the plants. Their sensitiveness had, at the end of 

 August, almost left them; indeed, after a blow on 

 the leaf with a twig, the foliage would fall, but 

 almost immediately regain its horizontal position. 



Many other useful analogies might, I think, be 

 made in this direction; and the subject is one full 

 of interest to all who look upon the conditions of 

 health or disturbance of the system throughout the 



