124. Life-and Writings of Francis Huber. 
ceived for ascertaining the nature of the air of hives, was that of 
causing certain seeds to germinate in it, founded on a vague opinion 
that seeds will not sprout in air much deprived of oxygen. This 
experiment, imperfect as it respects the direct object in view, united 
the two friends in the engagement of pursuing their researches into” 
the nature of germination, and a curious fact with respect to this 
association between a blind man and one of clear vision is that more’ 
frequently it was Sennebier who suggested the experiments and Hu-- 
ber that performed them. Their works have been published in their» 
joint names, under the title of ‘* Memoirs on the influence of Air in the. 
Germination of Seeds.” They fully demonstrated the necessity of 
oxygen gas in germination, the impossibility of success in a medium 
deprived of free oxygen, and the formation of carbonic acid, by the- 
combination of this oxygen with the carbon of the grain. This 
OPK sonesited principally by Sennebier and edited by him, has 
of the impress of Huber, and it is evident that in separating 
himself fom his loved bees, he took less interest in other researches, 
This perseverance of a whole life in a given object is one of the 
characteristic traits of Huber, and probably one of the causes of — 
his success. Naturalists are divided from taste, and often from po- 
sition, into two series,—the one love to embrace the tout ensemble 
of beings, to compare them with each other, to sieze the relations” 
of their organization, and to deduce from tkem their classification. 
and the general laws of nature. It is this class who have necessa- 
rily at their disposal, vast collections, and they mogtly dwell in large 
cities: the others take pleasure in the profound study of a given sub- 
ject, considering it under all its aspects, scrutinizing into its minute de- 
tails, and patiently following it in all its peculiarities :—the latter are 
generally sedentary and isolated observers, living remote from col- © 
lections, and far from great cities. The former may be charged with - 
the neglect of details in consequence of their attention to extensive 
generalities. The second, from being circumscribed in a limited 
circle, may be disposed to exaggerate its importance, and hence to 
judge incorrectly of the connection of parts in the entire series 
such mutual accusations are in reality idle. _ Natural history re+ 
quires both these classes, in the same manner as the architect 
in need of the stone cutter for the preparation of his materials, aad 
the stone cutter requires the science of the architect i in the construe: 
tion of the well planned edifice. 
Huber is evidently to be placed in the school of special observers $ 
his situation and infirmity retained him in it, and he acquired therein 
