100 
REPORT ON BOTANY, MDCCCXLl : 
which, as he had proved to he the sources of the carbon and 
of the nitrogen in plants, were contained in so varying pro- 
portions in the atmosphere, that they would appear to he 
opposed to combination ; and also, that they were known to 
issue from the interior of the earth at different places. The 
author adopts Liebig’s theories ; his argument is generally 
physicotheological, and he cites the fact, that ammonia would 
he injurious to plants if given alone in a requisite quantity. 
This might be easily answered. But the presence of carbonic 
acid in all spring water, would certainly seem to favour the 
conjecture of a subterraneous origin ; and the phenomenon of 
ammonia in rain water, might likewise originate from a general 
telluric cause, even if we do not exactly take into considera- 
tion volcanic agency. But this subject, properly speaking, 
belongs to geology. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Etudes sur VAnatoynie et la PJiysiologie des Vegeteaux par 
Th. Lestibonidois, Annal. de Scienc. Nat., vol. xiv. p. 267. 
The editors of the Annales state, that this paper constitutes a 
part of a Memoir d. 1. Soc. Boy. d. Scienc. de I’Agricult,, et 
d. Arts de Lille, pro 1839, the great extent of which, however, 
renders it impossible to communicate every thing of novelty 
and importance in it ; and many illustrations would likewise 
be necessary for that purpose ; and they have, therefore, con- 
tented themselves, by giving the “ resume general” at the end. 
The author commences with the elementary constituents of 
plants. The first elements of the organs, are the small 
globules, which are found in the elaborated sap, and which 
seem to possess a peculiar life. When more developed, they 
constitute globuline, starch, &c. They form lamellae by their 
union, which together form the lamellary tissue (tissu lamel- 
laire) that constitutes the basis of the plant. This tissue 
exhibits itself under a double form. The cellular tissue (t. 
utriculaire), and the vascular tissue (t. vasculaire). The cel- 
lular tissue consists of vesicles, or small sacs, which adhere to 
492 
