502 MR. J. B. LAWES, DR. GILBERT, AND DR. PUGH ON 
decomposition, though less foul than those from the whole seed and 100 cub. cent. 
water. 
The following Notes, taken at different times during the experiments, will indicate 
the stages of growth, or decomposition, through which the several organic matters 
passed. 
March 16. 
Wheat (a)—Seeds, in Soil with 50 cub. cent. water—Came up some days later than the 
corresponding Barley a; has not grown so rapidly; has kept green for a longer period ; 
and is yet growing healthily, though much crowded in the small bottle. The air pass- 
ing from the bottle has not the odour of decomposing organic matter. There isa slight 
mould on the soil due to a few seeds which did not grow. 
Wheat (6)—Seeds, in Pumice with 100 cub. cent. water—The Pumice in this case was 
covered with water to the depth of about one-fourth of an inch, and a few grains floated 
in the water. In a few days the air drawn through the bottle gave the odour and taste 
of decomposing organic matter. At the end of about a month the free water on the 
surface began to disappear rapidly, and in a short time it was all gone, leaving a grey 
mouldy coating of organic matter over the top of the pumice. This disappearance of 
water was too great to be due to simple evaporation in the air passed through the appa- 
ratus. It was doubtless consumed in the process of decomposition—a view which 
receives confirmation from our experiments on the nature of the gases evolved during 
decomposition. 
Wheat (¢)—Meal, in Soil with 40 cub. cent. water.—Gives little indication of decompo- 
sition by the air which passes from it. Compared with Wheat 4, the difference in this 
respect is very marked. 
Barley (a)—Seeds, in Soil with 50 cub. cent. water —Came up soon after being put in, 
grew rapidly, and in five weeks had grown to the top of the bottle, a height of about 
5 inches. By the end of February the bottle was quite filled with green vegetable 
matter, and up to that time no odour of decomposition was distinguishable in the air 
which was passed through, but from that date the leaves became yellow, and decompo- 
sition has been manifested both by appearance and the taste of the air. 
Barley (b)—Seeds, in Pumice with 100 cub. cent. water.—Progress almost exactly similar 
to that of the corresponding Wheat (b) described above. 
Barley (c)—Meal, in Soil with 40 cub. cent. water.—Very like the corresponding 
Wheat (c) above. 
Bean (a)—Seeds, in Soil with 50 cub. cent. water—Came up a week after sowing. 
The sprouts pushed several seeds out of the soil, yet they have continued to grow up to 
the present time, lying upon the surface. At first there was a natural development of 
leaf and of roots; but soon the latter took a remarkable course, coming through the 
surface of the soil and extending through all parts of the bottle, mingling with the 
