472 Observations connected with the Culture of Melons, 



consequence of being placed in earth, but because I removed it to 

 another glass vessel in which there was a weak solution of nitre and 

 camphor : these stimulants appeared to be fatal to the roots in a 

 very short period. 



Third. — The ivater, wherein the young plants produced roots and 

 remained for two or three weeks, continued colourless, clear and 

 perfectly sweet. It is well known that if flowers or small shoots of 

 shrubs be placed in water, a fetid odour is quickly discernible, the 

 fluid becomes foul and tainted. In the phial containing the rooted 

 and growing plant, although plunged in a bed of leaves, the tem- 

 perature of which was nearly 75 degrees, no taint or flavour was to 

 be perceived. Thus the vital principle of the plant either prevented 

 the formation or caused the absorption of any offensive matters and 

 kept the fluid in a state of perfect purity. Above a week has now 

 elapsed since I poured into a phial a considerable portion of the 

 water from one of the growing plants ; it is now fresh and free from 

 taint. The phial was corked and I shall continue to observe the 

 fluid in order to ascertain how long it will remain insipid and void 

 of offensive odour. 



One closing remark ought to be made. As I found that the 

 young roots were perfectly white as long as they remained in pure 

 water and were in great health and vigour, although the green herb 

 of the plant did not proportion ably increase, I removed a plant from 

 the water and inserted it into a larger phial containing a weak, but 

 somewhat coloured, infusion of semi-decayed animal manure mixed 

 up with portions of straw. I plunged the vessel into a moderate 

 heat, in expectation that the roots might act upon the matter held 

 in solution. A few days have elapsed; but, as yet, I have not 

 noticed the absorption of the colouring matter ; the roots have lost 

 their pearly whiteness and appear to become more flaccid. In the 

 present state of the experiment, I cannot be assured whether the 

 plant will grow more freely in manured than it did in pure water ; 



