CHAP. XII. 



ON THE MANIFESTATION OF CURRENT ELECTRICITY IN 

 PLANTS DURING VEGETATION. IN THE LEAVES; IN 

 THE roots; in THE PETALS; AND IN PRUITS AND 

 TUBERS. 



That electric currents may be obtained by insert- 

 ing the platinum electrodes of a galvanometer into 

 different parts of vegetables, has been proved by 

 Becqubbel", Donne ^ Wartmannf, Zantbdeschi^, 

 and BuFF^. According to Beoqubbel', " The dis- 

 tribution of the ascending sap, and the liquid of the 

 cortical parenchyma, leads to the belief that currents 

 continually circulate in vegetables, from the bark to 

 the pith." ..." The leaves act like the green part of , 



* Traite de rEleotrioite, tome iv. p. 164; Comptea Eendus, 

 Nov. 4, 1850, Mai 5, 1851; or Philosophical Magazine, 1851; 

 M^moires de I'Aoademie des Sciences de Paris, tome xxiii. 

 p. 301, 1853. I may refer also to a valuable Paper by Professor 

 GooDsm, in the Edinburgh New Phil. Journal, Oct. 1850. 



"> Traite de I'Eleetricite, tome iv. p. 164. 



•= BibHothdque Universelle de Genfeve, Deo. 1850; or Philo- 

 sophical Magazine, 1851. 



■i In the Gomptes Bendus for Mars 24, 1851, Zaniedesohi 

 refers to the Comptes Rendns des Sciences de I'lnstitut Venitien 

 des Sciences, Lettres, et Beaux Arts, 26 Mai, 1850, as contain- 

 ing the results that he has arrived at. I have been imable to 

 meet with this publication. 



« Philosophical Magazine for Feb. 1851, and Annales de 

 Chimie et de Physique, 3°"= Serie, tome xli. p. 198. 



f Philosophical Magazine, 1851, p. 578. 



