100 THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE 
recommended, that if the infusions had been pro- 
perly prepared, there would not have been any 
necessity for keeping them many months before 
examination, that his results with organic infusions 
were obtained after a few days, and that they were 
generally of a most unmistakable nature. To 
satisfy my doubts on the subject he most kindly 
offered to repeat his experiments relating to the 
production of living organisms in infusions of hay 
and turnip in my presence. To this proposal 
(although I have hitherto taken no part in the 
controversy relating to spontaneous generation, and 
do not intend to take any) I gladly acceded, at the 
same time engaging to publish the results without 
delay. 
Fifteen experiments were made. They were in 
three series, the dates of which were respectively, 
Dec, 14, Dec: 26,.and Dec, 37. 
Frrst Sertes—(Dec. 14th.) 
Two infusions were employed, an infusion of 
turnip, in making which both the rind and the 
central part were used, and an infusion of hay. 
Both had been prepared the same day a short time 
before they were used. 
The turnip infusion, of which the specific gravity 
was 1012, and the reaction distinctly acid, was 
divided into two parts, of which one was neutralised 
with liquor potassz. Four retorts, each capable of 
holding, when half full, a litthe over an ounce of 
liquid, having been prepared, two were charged 

