264 Correspondence of J. Nickles. 
tion of fallow land, to account for the origin of nitrogen in plants which 
ave been raised out of contact with sources of ammonia.° 
imilar way we can explain the source of nitrogen in myco- 
derms, without supposing the intervention of a peculiar property of these 
eryptogams as was done recently by Jodin, a physiologist who ob- 
served that solutions containing sugar, tartaric acid, glycerine and_phos- 
phates, and free from nitrogenous compounds, organic or mineral, were 
yet able to produce rich mycodermic vegetables ‘containing in the 
condition 4 to 6 per cent of nitrog 
Enclosed in tubes hermetically aia in presence of an artificial at- 
mosphere of oxygen and nitrogen, we easily show, says Jodin, a very 
notable eaibepeie of nitrogen, and this absorption continues, within cer 
tain limits, even when the liquid contains an appreciable proportion of 
ammonia or of an albuminoid substance, such as mill : ine abs sorption 
Schénbein has shown, always takes place in these conditions. 
codermic plants are able to facilitate it by reason of their avidity for the 
salts of ammonia, which they take up in proportion to their production, 
and constantly freeing ae soil they maintain it in a condition to form 
new proportions of nitrite 
The process employed by y Schénbein to detect the presence of nitrous 
acid consists, (as is well ron in the use of a solution of starch con 
taining iodid of sibel which he pours into the liquid to be exam 
ined, and to which he adds a little very dilute rg me omit We m es 
observe that this reaction serves quite as well to recognize the p 
of ezone, chlorine, bromine, or iodine, as o naka pectoris 
or hypobromous acid: in fine, that, without wishing to throw any 
upon the results obtained by Schénbein, we may still inquire — 
it is proper to attribute to nitrous acid all the colored reactions prod 
macie et de Chimie, xli, — _ it is sufficient that these 
contain chlorids, which is nstant fact—and frequentl mi - 
In presence of sulphuric pat the alkaline chlorids give chlorohyene 
acid, which, with ogee acid, also set free, _— aqua-regia, the action 
Since this cjetion was pg nted t » Schonbein (who aon 
Silla fe pr nego “= we Laie just suggested (See nit de Phar 
for November, new 
Glee stuprcs e y.—A new kind of manga Painting. —This 
kind of — which is just now being applied to many mont 
recently constructed in Paris, was invented by e artizan who wat 
lished in Piao the electro-metallurgy of copper, Mr. Oudry, who, PY ng 
simple process, has sueceeded by the ‘aid 1 of electricity in cover! 
* On these uestions see also “ Lerons aites & la Société Chimigue de Part ® 
£861,” p. 188, dc, Paris, chez Hachette. f 
