t 210 . j 



and volatile oils, resins, camphor, woody fibre, &t. 

 may be produced from saccharine or mucilaginous 

 fluids; and by the abstraction of carbon and hydro- 

 gene, starch, sugar, the different vegetable acids and 

 substances soluble in water, may be formed from high- 

 ly combustible and insoluble substances. Even the 

 limpid volatile oils which convey the fragrance of the 

 flower, consist of different proportions of the same 

 essential elements, as the dense woody fibre; and both 

 are formed by different changes in the same organs, 

 from the same materials, and at the same time. 



M. Vauquelin has lately attempted to estimate 

 the chemical changes taking place in vegetation, by 

 analysing some of the organized parts of the horse- 

 chesnut in their different stages of growth. He found 

 in the buds collected, March 7. 1812, tanning princi- 

 ple, and albuminous matter capable of being obtained 

 separately, but when obtained, combining with each 

 other. In the scales surrounding the buds, he found 

 the tanning principle, a little saccharine matter, resin, 

 and a fixed oil. In the leaves fully developed, he dis- 

 covered the same principles as in the buds; and in ad- 

 dition, a peculiar green resinous matter. The petals 

 of the flower yielded a yellowish resin, saccharine mat- 

 ter, albuminous matter, and a little wax: the stamina 

 afforded sugar, resin, and tannin. 



The young chesnuts examined immediately after 

 their formation, afforded a large quantity of a matter 

 which appeared to be a combination of albuminous 

 matter and tannin. All the parts of the plant afford- 

 ed saline combinations of the acetic and phosphoric 

 acids. 



