Vegetable Staticks. 155 



CHAP. V. 



Experiments, whereby to prove, that a con- 

 fiderable quantity of air is infpired by 

 Plants. 



IT is well known that air is a fine ela- 

 ftick fluid, with particles of very diffe- 

 rent natures floating in it, whereby it is ad- 

 mirably fitted by the great Author of na- 

 ture, to be the breath of life of vegeta- 

 bles, as well as of animals, without which 

 they can no more live nor thrive, than ani- 

 mals can. 



In the Experiments on Vines, Chap. III. 

 we faw the very great quantity of air which 

 was continually afcending from the Vines, 

 thro' the fap in the tubes; which manifeftly 

 {hews what plenty of it is taken in by vege- 

 tables, and is perfpired off* with the fap thro* 

 the leaves. 



Experiment XL VII. 



Sept. 9th, at 9 a. m. I cemented an Apple- 

 branch b (Fig. 11.) to the glafs tube r i e z: 

 I put no water in the tube, but fet the end 

 of it in the ciftern of water x. Three 



hours 



