306 Contimiation of Lucas's Experiments 



leaves which rooted in charcoal produced eyes in the course of 

 last summer, and in general not only one but several, from 

 which shoots sprang, which are now grown into strong plants. 

 As examples, I will only mention Kinca rosea, Vernon/a tourne- 

 ibvtioides, O'xalis Ma?idwccdna, O. Barrelierz", Thunbergm alata, 

 Gonolobus mexicanus, y^ristolochia brasiliensis, £uph6rb/a fas- 

 tuosa, ^ugenm aiistralis, Ipomce^a superba, Ardisia japonica, 

 Fuchsm fulgens, &c. A number of similar leaves that have 

 rooted have not as yet made shoots ; they are, however, quite 

 fresh, and full of sap, and have an abundance of roots. In most 

 instances a protuberance was formed before the shoot was 

 formed, and in many the eyes were close to the surface of the 

 cut. The folioles of the Zamia integrifcMia made three fleshy 

 roots nearly 1 ft. long, and we may confidently expect that 

 eyes will eventually be formed on them, though somewhat later. 



Charcoal was not so much used for sowing seeds, but in cases 

 where it was applied it showed extraordinary power. Cu- 

 cumbers and melons, for example, germinated in it one day 

 earlier than those sown in earth and plunged together with 

 them in warm beds, and were strong plants; while the plants 

 from the latter seeds continued stationary, though the treatment 

 was the same. 



Experiments were also made with a view to the application of 

 charcoal in transmitting living plants ; and for this purpose some 

 young chamsedoreas, ferns, calceolarias, salvias, verbenas, and 

 young cabbage and cucumber plants, some with moss round the 

 ball of roots, others without any covering, were put in dry or 

 very slightly moistened charcoal, firmly pressed down, and the 

 closed box placed for four weeks in an airy shed, on which the 

 sun shone for several hours. At the expiration of this period 

 the palms and ferns were found in a very fresh state ; the cal- 

 ceolarias and salvias had some yellow leaves, but had made 

 young shoots; a species of Petunia even flowered on the box 

 being opened ; the verbenas only had suffered, but were still 

 alive ; the young cabbage and cucumber plants taken out of 

 dung-beds had rotted, but without injuring any of the plants 

 lying beside them. Cut flowers of many different sorts of plants 

 kept perfectly fresh and well in fine dry charcoal, for from eight 

 to fourteen days. Radishes, parsneps, onions, and the turnip- 

 like roots of CKxalis lasiandra Zucc, attained a considerable size 

 in a bed filled 1 ft. deep with pure charcoal ; and also kohlrabi, 

 which was planted in it. 



An interesting circumstance took place with the bulbs of 

 the Due van Thol tulip, which had been forced. In the month 

 of May two bulbs of this species were put in the above-mentioned 

 bed, to see whether they would become sufficiently strong 

 during the summer to produce perfect flowers again next 



