22 report — 1859. 



which our knowledge is the most complete, the application of the theory to 

 them makes it possible to arrive at a more certain conclusion as to its value, 

 than would be the case were it confined to the substances to which it was 

 originally applied. Respecting the above and similar formulae, it may be 

 observed, — 



1. That, leaving out of view the substances under discussion, there is no 

 reason to believe that the oxygen in carbonic-anhydride can be divided into 

 more than two parts; there is no evidence that carbonic anhydride contains 

 more than two atoms of oxygen. 



2. That there is no similarity, nor definite gradational difference of proper- 

 ties, between the type CO 4 and the substances represented as deriving from it. 



3. Two out of the four formulae given above, namely the first and third, 

 are in direct opposition to Gerhardt's atomic weights ; we know, however, 

 that they represent only half an atom of the bodies to which they are 

 assigned. 



Views respecting the nature of chemical affinity have induced Couper to 

 adopt 8 as the atomic weight of oxygen. He, however, finds that, owing to 

 a peculiar tendency which oxygen possesses to combine with oxygen, the 

 smallest quantity of it which ever enters into combination is twice 8. This 

 being admitted, it seems a matter of minor importance whether the smallest 

 combining proportion of oxygen should be represented by the symbol 

 = 16, or by the symbol 2 =16. 



September 10, 1859. 



Report on the Growth of Plants in the Garden of the Royal Agricultural 

 College, Cirencester. By James Buckman, F.S.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., 

 fyc, Professor of Natural History, Royal Agricultural College. 



The following notes are upon experiments which have been completed or are 

 still in progress in the experimental garden of the Royal Agricultural College, 

 and this Report is furnished at the instance of the Natural History Section, 

 the experiments having been made the subject of a grant from the funds of 

 the British Association. 



It is hoped that the present Report will show the desirability of continuing 

 experiments upon plants, as whatever effect they may have upon our theore- 

 tical views, I think it will clearly be seen that many practical matters of great 

 importance are involved in inquiries of this kind, and I shall therefore not 

 detain the Section with any lengthened introduction, but at once ask for a kind 

 and considerate attention to the following notes : — 



The cultivation of flax or lintseed offers such interesting matter to the na- 

 turalist, as being of importance in an economic and agricultural point of view, 

 that we cannot help detailing some experiments connected therewith. 



Plot A was sown in drills with a pure sample of linseed grown on the farm 

 of the Royal Agricultural College. 



Plot B was sown with a like weight of seed uncleaned, it therefore con- 

 sisted of full half its weight of weed-seeds. 



Plot C was sown with a like weight of pure seed as in plot A, to which was 

 afterwards added a good sprinkling of dodder seed, viz. Cuscuta epilinum. 



These beds were left unmolested, not even being weeded. The seed 

 became ripe in the middle of August, at which time the following observa- 

 tions were noted upon each of them : — 



