f 35] 



III. Experiments on the Inorganic Constituents of Plants. By 

 Edward Solly, Esq., F. R. S., F. L. S. y Hon. Memb. Roy. 

 Agr. Soc. Eng. Experimental Chemist to the Horticultural 

 Society. 



(Communicated by the Chemical Committee.*) 



In pursuing, under the direction of the Chemical Committee, my 

 enquiries into the office performed by the inorganic constituents 

 of Plants, several subjects of investigation naturally presented 

 themselves; amongst which are the following questions. Are 

 the quantity and nature of the inorganic matters which exist in 

 plants certain and invariable, or do they fluctuate and vary accord- 

 ing to circumstances ? If variable, what are the causes which influ- 

 ence their absorption, and how may it be augmented or diminished ? 

 and thirdly, what connexion is there between the formation of any 

 peculiar organic substance and the absorption of particular inorganic 

 matters from the soil ? Without pretending to attempt the solution 

 of these questions, I shall proceed to describe briefly some of the 

 experiments, which the consideration of them led to. 



In order to trace, if possible, the connexion between the growth 

 of plants and the absorption of particular substances, or their pre- 

 sence in the soil, several experiments were made on different plants, 

 which were manured with various substances and subsequently 

 examined, both mechanically, as to their size or increased develope- 

 ment, and chemically, to ascertain what influence the manure had 



* The Chemical Committee of the Society is supported by voluntary subscrip- 

 tions among the Fellows of the Society. The following are the present Members of 

 the Committee and the amount of their Subscriptions : His Grace the Duke of 

 Devonshire, 50/.; E. Barnard, Esq., 1/.; Major Buckley, 1/.; Jos. Blunt, 

 Esq., 1/. 1*. ; Thomas Farmer, Esq., 51. ; Dr. Henderson, 11. ; Sir C. Lemon, 

 Bart., 51. ; Dr. Lindley, 51.; Sir O. Mosley, Bart., 51. ; W. Murray, Esq., 21. ; 

 W. Ogilby Esq., 11. ; E. W. Pendarves, Esq., 21; W. H. Pepys, Esq., 21 ; John 

 Rogers, Esq., 51. ; R. Horsman Solly, Esq., 51. ; Sir J. Sebright, Bart., 5/. ; Samuel 

 Sony, Esq., 51; E. Strutt, Esq., 21. j C. Webb, Esq., 31. ; J. Wedgwood, Esq., 1/. 



