99 
seedlings, or other young plants which have been removed, will 
assist greatly in recovering them and making them strike root 
afresh. We may add, that dowers in nosegays will continue 
much longer in beauty, if the water in which they are kept be 
changed daily; and at each change a small piece of the lower 
end of the stem, which has rested in the water, be cut off. 
137 Electricity, its influence on Vegetation. Mr. Pine, 
of Maidstone, in a letter on this interesting subject, inserted in 
No. 692 of the Mechanics’ Magazine, says, “We have endea- 
voured to trace a relation between the structure and functions 
of plants, and the properties of the surrounding elements, fa- 
vouring the conclusion that electricity is the grand agent by 
which the several processes of vegetation are carried forward. 
Air, water, and solar light, have respectively been viewed as 
conveying electric influence to the vegetable kingdom. The 
predominant influence of each of these elements appears to take 
place in the order just mentioned ; and the dry winds of March, 
the copious rains of April, and bright sunshine of May, appear 
to exhibit this succession Hi a general view, while the mingled 
and varying states of the weather show the almost continual 
necessity of their mingled operation in different degrees. It 
may here be observed by the way, that whereas the vital j)rin- 
ciple in animals is maintained by means of a portion of the 
atmosphere which is uniformly siip|)lied at all seasons, and is 
administered to all the more jieifect kinds in the exact propor- 
tion which is requisite to jireserve the uniformity of their heat 
and vitality; that of vegetables depending on the vicissitudes 
of the seasons, and even on the variations of the weather, is 
subject to the like vicissitudes and variations. To me it ap- 
pears, that in reality they both depend upon the same subtile 
fluid as emanating from the sun ; but whereas, plants derive it 
in an uncombined state from the floating winds, the condensing 
vapours, and the direct rays of the sun ; animals imbibe it by 
means of the peculiar organisation of the lungs in those more 
copious and uniform supplies which their more elevated nature 
requires, by a chemical decomposition of oxygen in those or- 
gans. But this important branch of inquiry cannot be pursued 
in this place. I now wish to offer a few remarks on the pro- 
gress of vegetation under the influence of the several elements. 
1st. The electric influence of the air in producing the first ex- 
150 AUCTABICM. 136, Qrly. Jl. of Science, N. 8. 1, 499. 
