302 



COMMUNICATIONS BY 



ELECTRO-VEGETATION. 



On the 3d of October, 1842, 1 commenced an electro-chemical 

 experiment, which has constantly, since that period, been in pro- 

 gress, and will probably continue for some time longer. It is not 

 necessary to the present notice that I should detail the objects of 

 this undertaking, as the indications of a successful result induce 

 me to suppose that paticulars may eventually be worth communi- 

 cating to the scientific public. I shall therefore merely state that 

 a cylindrical glass vessel, capable of containing about ten fluid 

 ounces, with a bottom of porous baked earth, and open at the top, is 

 suspended in a convenient frame, is about three-fourths filled with 

 a solution of refined sugar in distilled water, receiving occasional 

 supplies, and that' the poles of a water-battery of twenty-five pairs 

 terminate within an inch of each other in the solution before men- 

 tioned, about an inch also from the bottom of the cylindrical vessel. 

 Through the porous bottom alluded to, the saccharine liquid grad- 

 ually percolated, during several months — that is, until its minute 

 viaducts became completely obstructed The solution thus filtered 

 fell into a convenient glazed earthen jar placed under the appa- 

 ratus, and was occasionally returned to the inside of the glass 

 cylinder. 



About the beginning of September, 1843, a small patch of fungus, 

 of a peculiar character, was observed to have commenced forming 

 on the outside of the glass, near its lower rim, but yet not in con- 

 tact with the line of junction between the glass and its ervrthen 

 bottom. At this period the solution had ceased to drop through 

 the earthen diaphragm, and the incipient fungus occupied a spot 

 on the outside of the glass directly opposite the negative electrode 

 within. This substance having, when first seen, a gelatinous ap- 

 pearance, of a dark-brown color, by slow degrees extended itself 

 round the lower rim of the glass, forming an irregular band or 

 zone, half an inch in breadth, and throwing out numerous protu- 

 berances as it approached the positive side of the arrangement. On 

 the 29th of November, in the same year, the following note relative 

 to this singular production occurs among my memoranda ; and as I 

 cannot otherwise better describe its mature appearance, I shall 

 subjoin the extract : 



" The substance of this fungus varies in color from a light choco 

 late to that of a dark sanguineous red, and though formerly of a 

 soft texture, it now offers considerable resistance. When viewed 

 with an excellent pocket-lens — thU only sort of microscope that 

 can be brought to bear upon it — a most singularly-beautiful species 

 <of vegetation is seen to occupy its entire surface, presenting va- 

 rious shades of crimson, green, olive, and green inclining to yellow. 

 In its general appearance it at once suggests the idea of a magnifi 

 cent forest, consisting of trees and flowering shrubs in miniature. 

 In particular spots, fine, downy, needle-like spires occur in vast 

 multitudes, and these otherwise naked processes rising from the 

 body of the fungus are surmounted by what appear to be seed 

 vessels; in some instances, and irregular feathery tufts in others."* 



* Shortly after the above note was entered in my memoranda, a 

 small portion of the fungus, with its incumbent vegetation, was 

 submitted to a powerful microscope, and a sketch made in accord 

 ance, which, for obvious reasons, cannot be here introduced. 



