264 DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRICITY BY PLANTS. 



nitrogen (the gas which forms the greatest part of common air, 

 seeming to have for its object to dilute the oxygen, which by 

 itself would be too powerful for the support of animal and 

 vegetable life), the formation of carbonic acid was altogether 

 checked, and no heat was given off ; although the opening of the 

 flower, and the shedding of the pollen, took place to all appear- 

 ance as usual. 



414. So little has been satisfactorily ascertained, regarding 

 the connection of Electricity with the processes of Vegetable 

 growth, that it seems undesirable here to dwell upon the mani- 

 festations of this agent which sometimes occur. It may be stated, 

 however, that, whilst on the one hand, the condition of the 

 atmosphere in regard to Electricity has evidently a striking in- 

 fluence on the rapidity of their growth (some plants having been 

 known to increase in the most extraordinary manner during 

 thundery weather), the electricity developed by the changes 

 which take place in the economy of plants, has probably a very 

 powerful influence on the condition of the atmosphere. It is 

 well known that by all chemical changes, such as occur in every 

 process of vegetation, from the absorption of the crude sap, to 

 its final conversion into the substances which are to remain fixed 

 or permanent through a long series of years, electricity is pro- 

 duced. Further, the mere evaporation of water from the sur- 

 face of the leaves will do the same ; and thus a constant series 

 of changes in the electric state of plants will occur, which will 

 communicate themselves to the atmosphere. 



415. The general electric state of plants is found to be that 

 termed negative ;* and if any circumstances cause the atmosphere 

 to be positively electrified through a considerable space, some 

 great commotion of the elements is not unlikely to take place. 

 Hence, the dreadful hurricanes, which occasionally devastate the 

 West Indian islands, may be in some degree accounted for. The 

 evaporation of the water from the surface of the surrounding 

 ocean, tends to make the air above it positively electrical ; and 

 this, too, at the very time when the brilliant light and genial 



* Sec TREATISE ON ELECTRICITY. 



