150 Scientific Intelligence. — Chemistry. 



a short lime at rest. When well rBoistened, a little concentrated sul- 

 phuric acid is to be added, and stirred about with a tube ; then by- 

 respiring near it, the odor may be perceived. M. Barruel is not 

 sure that the distinction could be ascertained after more than fifteen 

 days, and therefore recommends legal officers to allow of no delay in 

 any intended experiments which have to bear upon cases of judicial 

 investigation. — Quarterly Journal, Jul. — Sep. 1829. 



12. On the Formation of Acids in Vegetables, by M. Vauque- 

 lin. (Ann. de Chimie, XLI, 59.) — I have thought that in a great 

 number of cases, the developement of acids in vegetables was occa- 

 sioned principally by the presence of alkalies. We find, in fact, the 

 acids almost always neutralized altogether, or in part by various al- 

 kalies, as lime, potash, soda, magnesia, and sometimes by vegeto- 

 alkalies ; and I do not know that the latter have ever been found in 

 a free state in the vegetable kingdom. 



The alkali which plays the greatest part in this respect, is certainly 

 lime, for it is most generally diffused, is most abundant at the surface 

 of the earth; and powerfully attracts acids. It does not, certainly, 

 enter into the organic kingdom in the state of lime, but as carbonate, 

 which, without exerting any deleterious action on vegetables, still re- 

 tains sufficient alkaline force to determine the formation of acids, 

 and particularly the oxalic, which it prefers to all others. 



We may thus, as I have said elsewhere, explain the effect of cal- 

 careous manures on vegetables. Immediately after its introduction 

 into the organs of plants, the carbonate of lime determines the de- 

 velopement of an acid which decomposes it, and sets its carbonic 

 acid at liberty, which by means of light, is turned to account in the 

 vegetable kingdom. From hence, it may be concluded that calca- 

 reous manures fill two important functions ; narejely, the division of 

 the soil, and the nutrition of the plants. — Quar. Journal, Jul. — Sep. 

 1829. 



13. Proportions of Oil in different Oleaginous Plants. (All- 

 gem. Hand. Zuitung.) — According to some experments of MM. 

 Schubler and Bentsch on the oils of Germany, the following species 

 of plants yielded per cent, of oil. 



