86 CHYMISTRY APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE, 



Carbonic acid 4 



Oxygen 16.8 



Azote 79.2 



100 



In every instance, a portion of oxygen had disappeared, 

 and had been replaced by a nearly equal quantity of car- 

 bonic acid. The quantity of carbonic acid given out, is 

 often found to be a little less than that of the oxygen ab- 

 sorbed. By diminishing the quantity of air in which the 

 fruits are exposed, the oxygen may be almost wholly ab- 

 sorbed. Experiments made with glasses, of which the 

 fruits occupied one third of the capacity, presented the 

 following results. 



Carbonic acid 18.52 



Oxygen 1.96 



Azote 79.52 



100 



It appears to be proved by these experiments, that fruits 

 exposed to the action of air in a well-lighted place, and 

 under the successive influences of day and night, absorb 

 oxygen, which combines with the carbon of the fruits, and 

 forms a volume of carbonic acid nearly equal to that of the 

 oxygen imbibed. 



The same changes took place when the apparatus was 

 exposed to the rays of the sun, but with this difference, 

 that the decomposition of the air was more prompt and 

 more complete in the direct rays of the sun, than merely 

 in daylight, or in the darkness of night. 



Some almonds exposed to the sun from nine o'clock in 

 the morning till four in the afternoon, changed the air of a 

 bell-glass as follows : 



Carbonic acid 15.74 



Oxygen 5.65 



Azote 78.61 



100 



In this instance it appears, that, besides the carbonic acid 

 formed by the union of the oxygen of the atmosphere with 

 the carbon of the fruit, the fruit itself furnished a small 

 quantity ; whence M. Berard concluded, that fruits affect 

 the air very differently from flowers. Instead of changing, 



