By Edward Solly, Esq. 



57 



The differences in the quantity of inorganic matter between those 

 grown in light, and those grown in darkness, were comparatively 

 small ; it is evident however that there was no great deficiency of 

 inorganic matter in the plants which grew in the dark ; and this 

 was the result arrived at from numerous experiments on other 

 plants. In many cases it was found that the plants which grew in 

 the dark, contained the greatest quantity of inorganic matter; 

 but this was not always the case ; and the general conclusion ap- 

 peared to be that light does not exert any decided influence on 

 the absorption of these substances. In the experiment on Hya- 

 cinths just described, some remarkable effects were observed, which 

 though not altogether new, are worthy of record. The plants 

 which grew in the dark were much the largest and much the most 

 succulent, the leaves and stems were perfectly white, but the 

 flowers were in all cases quite as brilliant in colour as those which 

 grew in light; they were however nearly devoid of scent. The 

 colour of those which grew in the dark appeared to be more 

 permanent than the others, for, on drying, they retained their colour 

 perfectly ; whilst those which grew in light, faded, and soon be- 

 came dingy. 



A number of experiments were also made to determine what 

 influence the Salts of Ammonia had on the absorption of 

 earthy matters, and their result was more definite; it ap- 

 peared that salts of Ammonia almost always caused an increased 

 absorption of inorganic substances, and more especially influenced 

 the absorption of Potash from the soil, and the formation of Nitre. 

 It had been anticipated from previous experiments, that salts of 

 Ammonia would, by causing plants to grow more vigorously, enable 

 them to take more potash &c. from the soil, so that the whole 

 quantity of inorganic matter which each plant contained, would be 

 incjgased, but that the relation which existed between it, and the 

 organic matter would be unaltered. The result of a number of 



