J. LeConte on the Correlation of Forces. S12 «4 
organic matter previously accumulated in their tissues in the 
form of starch and actually lose weight of solid matter.* 
th. In a most interesting and suggestive article in the Biblio- 
théquey Universelle (Archive des Sciences,+) on the subject of 
humus, M. Risler shows in the most conclusive manner that 
m 
mus 
ingdom before it can be absorbed and assimilated by plants, 
plied, but in insufficient quantities, by the atmosphere. 
Risler repeats with great care the experiments 
€xposed at a somewhat elevated temperature to sunlight under a 
bell glass, Microscopic plants developed in great abundance. 
As long as these plants continued to develop the infusion was 
transparent and did not putrefy in the slightest degree: and yet 
ere was a constant evolution of CO, as shown by analysis oot 
the air, for the liquid, far from absorbing, disengaged CO,. There- 
fore the soluble fe must have furnished the carbon — 
rni it 
in the form of CO, derived from decomposition of the organic 
Matter, otherwise instead of CO, would have elimi- 
nated. 
* Carpenter, Comp, Phys, p. 285. 
+ Bib. Un. Arch, des Sei, new period, vol. 1, p. 305. 
