OBSERVATIONS ON THE TREATMENT OP A FEW SPECIES OF LUPINES. 179 
roilimental existence from seeds, their future causes of increase from the earth and 
air, till they attain a state of maturity ; and, during that period, they furnish 
sustenance to the animal creation. To maturity succeeds decay, which is nothing 
else than a slow, protracted combustion, whereby the carbon and oxygen are 
excited to attract each otlier, and to combine in the form of carlonic acid gas ; 
the liydrogen and nitrogen to take the form of gaseous ammonia ; and the hydrogen 
and oxygen that of icatery vapour. These and other gaseous products pass off, and 
float in the atmosphere, while the residuary solid carbon remains fixed in the 
condition of black humus, which^ in its turn, becomes further changed by tlia 
conjoint operation of the soil, and the roots of plants growing in it. 
Tiiat plants absorb and respire by the stomates of the leaves, is probable ; 
at all events, they expire water or watery vapour, as is shown by the water 
deposited upon leaves, by other leaves reposing upon them ; but in all artificial 
experiments, the results are never to be relied on. Liebig has justly remarked, 
that " the mere observation of a wood or meadow is infinitely better to decide so 
simple a question than all the trivial experiments under a glass globe ; the only 
difference is, that, instead of one plant, there are thousands. When we are 
acquainted with the nature of a single inch of soil, and know the composition of 
the air, and rain-water, we are in possession of all the conditions necessary to their 
life. The source of the different elements entering into the composition of plants 
cannot possibly escape us, if we know in what form they take up their nourish- 
ment, and compare its composition with that of its vegetable substances which 
compose their structure." 
An Oak^ produced from an acorn in water, is still growing in that water, 
occasionally replenished, in which it first germinated two years ago ; every fibre is 
covered with water algae ; and whenever the sun shines fully upon these parasites, 
transparent bubbles of air detach themselves, and rise through the water. Here 
then is an evidence of decomposition, not in the oak, but in the green vegetable 
matter which covers its roots ; this tribe requires no sensible carbon ; it will 
exist in water, and may liberate either a portion of the oxygen of the absorbed 
water, or of that from the small quantity of carbonic acid emitted by the roots of 
the oak, and taken up by the water-plant. It is very instructive to observe these 
minutiae, which take place daily, but are passed by without reflection. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE TREATMENT OF A FEW 
SPECIES OF LUPINES. 
Unjust and very inaccurate estimates are frequently made of the desirability 
of a plant, or tribe of plants, from the specimen which first brings us acquainted 
with them being indifferently grown, or exhibiting itself under circumstances of 
