486 Effects of the Winter of 1840-41 



mination, which proved that chlorine generates oxyen in the light. 

 The same effect has also been observed in seeds which vegetated 

 entirely in the dark ; and as, according to the observations of 

 Goppert, iodine and bromine (Jod und Erom), in conjunction 

 with hydrogen, produce a similar effect, it appears that both 

 these matters, as well as the acids frequently applied for that 

 purpose, hasten the process of assimilation. It cannot be denied, 

 that all these substances accelerate germination, but to the prac- 

 tical gardener they must be considered as experiments unfit for 

 general practice ; for the young plants thus called into existence 

 grow sickly through the excitement, and die off, which cannot 

 surprise us, as the same effect is seen when plants of cold climates 

 are reared too warmly, and are not placed in a cooler situation 

 after germination. 



In the seeds of the species of Casuarina, ^^alvia, Collomia, and 

 jLepidium, we find a remarkable formation, which deserves to be 

 mentioned at the conclusion of this chapter. In the outer cells 

 of the seeds of these plants there is a sort of slime, which, when 

 they are kept moist, attracts the water, swells out, bursts the 

 testa, and surrounds the seed as a slimy sticky mass, which ap- 

 pears to be intended to keep the seed continually moist, and to 

 nourish the young plants in the first stage of their growth. 



( To he continued. ) 



Art. II. Effects of the Winter^ from December 1840 to March 

 1841, on pcremiial Plants in the open Air. By Frederick 

 Otto. Berlin. 



(Translated from the Garten Zeitung for 1841, p. 195.) 



Although last winter was not generally so severe as that of 

 1837-38, its effects on vegetation here were very different, and 

 caused the most melancholy desolation among our plants. The 

 perennial plants suffered the most, although our trees and shrubs 

 were not spared. No winter here ever had so great an effect 

 upon the perennials ; and many of them, which had formerly with- 

 stood the most severe cold, are this year completely destroyed. 

 The cause of all this devastation is undoubtedly the absence of 

 a covering of snow, as we had none whatever in the beginning of 

 winter, and the frost therefore had no difficulty in penetrating 

 the soil ; which, upon trial in different places, was found to be 

 the case, as measurement proved it to be nearly 3 ft. deep. The 

 soil by this means could not be worked, and the usual winter 

 occupations were put a stop to. In addition to this cold, a 

 sharp and continued east wind set in, with a great deal of sun- 



