THE VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF PLANTS. 259 



it upon the observation that certain plants exude drops 

 of liquid from their roots when these are placed in dry- 

 sand, and that odors exhale from the roots of other plants. 

 Numerous experiments have been instituted at various 

 times for the purpose of testing this question. The most 

 extensive inquiries we are aware of, are those of Dr. Al- 

 fred Gyde, {Trans. Highland and Agi: Soc, 1845-7, p. 

 273-92). This experimenter planted a variety of agricul- 

 tural plants, viz., wheat, barley, oats, rye, beans, peas, 

 vetches, cabbage, mustard, and turnips, in pots filled either 

 with garden soil, sand, moss, or charcoal, and after they had 

 attained considerable growth, removed the earth, etc., from 

 their roots by washing with water, using care not to in- 

 jure or wound them, and then immersed the roots in ves- 

 sels of pure water. The plants were allowed to remain 

 in these circumstances, their roots being kejDt in darkness, 

 but their foliage exposed to light, from three to seventeen 

 days. In most cases they continued apparently in a good 

 state of health. At the expiration of the time of experi- 

 ment, the water which had been in contact with the roots 

 was evaporated, and was found to leave a very minute 

 amount of yellowish or brown matter, a portion of which 

 was of organic and the remainder of mineral origin. Dr. 

 Gyde concluded from his numerous trials, that plants do 

 throw off organic and inorganic excretions similar in com- 

 position to their sap ; but that the quantity is exceedingly 

 small, and is not injurious to the plants which furnish 

 them. 



In the light of newer investigations touching the struc- 

 ture of roots and their adaptation to the medium which 

 happens to invest them, we may well doubt whether agri- 

 cultural plants in the healthy state excrete any solid or 

 liquid matters whatever from their roots. The familiar 

 excretion of gum, resin, and sugar,* from the stems of 



» From the wounded bark of the Sugar Pine, {I^mis Lambertiana,) of Cali- 

 fornia. 



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