PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



77 



moisture every twelve hours, or seveuteeu times more 

 than a man. 



These facts prove that the greater portion of the 

 crude liquids which are taken up by the roots of a 

 plant, passes off into the atmosphere through the leaves. 

 The quantity of moisture thus appropriated by some 

 plants must be enormous, as the foregoing experi- 

 ments with small ones sutficiently prove. Large trees, 

 presenting a great expanse of foliage, must necessarily 

 exhale immense amounts of moisture. Thus, forest 

 lands which are wet, and even swampy, become dry 

 on being cleared. Gardens Avhich are unduly crowded, 

 are generally damp from the copious exhalations pro- 

 ceeding from excessive foliage. From the same cause 

 proceeds the dampness in houses whose exterior is 

 enveloped by shrubs or running Adnes. 



From the large proportion of mineral matter con- 

 tained in the leaves, it is evident that the same sub- 

 stances existing in the earth must be annually circula- 

 ting from one to the other. The roots extract them 

 from the soil, they ascend the tree with the sap, and 

 are deposited in the leaves. Having given them co- 

 herency and strength, and having probably performed 

 other functions which are yet unknown to either 

 botanist or chemist, the fall and decay of the leaves 

 7* 



