No. 133.1 443 



magnesia, soda, lime, potash, aud causes them to circulate through 

 the capillary tubes of the plant. Infuse madder and cause plants 

 to grow in it, and then its fibrous roots will be red ; still the stems 

 do not partake of the color, showing that the organic coloring 

 undergoes a chemical change, before it reaches them. Plants 

 will grow in a weak solution of jelly, sugar or gum, all of which 

 it has the power to convert into nourishing food. 



Snow is supposed to be of advantage to plants in the spring, 

 when it melts, from the fact that it possesses the power of absor- 

 bing nitrogen and oxygen, together with ammonia from the atmos- 

 phere. You may easily discover the value of snow by tlie fol- 

 lowing experiment. — Place a few willow cuttings in snow water, 

 and a like quantity in distilled water, you will find that those 

 immersed in snow will make fine roots, whereas the others in dis 

 tilled water will scarcely grow at all. 



Oxalic acid is composed of oxygen and carbon. It is found in 

 many plants, though it is not considered to aid them in their 

 growth. This is the acid discovered in sorrel, rhubarb, and nu- 

 merous other plants ; sometimes combined with lime, potash, &c. 



Ammonia is compounded of nitrogen and hydrogen, and is 

 very important to all plants. It is a perfectly colorless gas, and is 

 readily known by its penetrating smell. It will at once extin- 

 guish a lighted candle, and suffocate animals in an inconceivably 

 short time. It readily enters into charcoal, porous vegetable mat- 

 ters, burned bricks and clay, and, mcst surprisingly into water, 

 which will take up 6 or 700 times its bulk. It promotes the 

 growth of vegetation in plants, by entering directly into their cir- 

 culation, and to such an extent in some, that they perspire this 

 gas freely. All vegetable substance, when distilled, is found to 

 contain ammonia. Any manure that holds a large percentage of 

 this valuable gas, will be found an exceedingly efficacious stimu- 

 lant. 



Nitrogen gas circulates through the stems of plants, and is sup- 

 posed to be absorbed by the leaves and the roots. It is never 

 found in very large quantities, as compared with other elements. 



