236 
Though this, however, should be, in some degree, 
allowed, yet it must be granted, that the similarity 
of result, obtained in a great many trials, and the 
fact that no greater additional weight was acquired 
by the plants in a month than in eight days, although 
their bulk had then greatly increased, give great 
weight to the inference deduced from these experi- 
ments, since they shew that water, even if it be said 
to be decomposed, adds little or nothing to the 
solid vegetable substance. 
,52O. But the great argument for the decomposi- 
tion of water is drawn from the production of oxygen 
gas ; and were it, therefore, to be said, that, in these 
plants, the two grains in weight were acquired by the 
addition of the hydrogen of the water, the plants, 
adds M. de Saussure, should have eliminated all the 
oxygen with which this quantity of hydrogen was 
combined, that is to say, at least 22 cubic inches, 
which should have been found in the recipient ; 
whereas, it has been stated, that the atmosphere ex- 
perienced no alteration whatever*. In the same 
manner, 19 cubic inches of oxygen should have been 
eliminated in an experiment made on some plants of 
vinea minor ; but neither had their atmosphere un- 
dergone any sensible change f. If it be said, that the 
oxygen was converted into vegetable matter, as well 
as the hydrogen, then the argument for the decom- 
position of water, derived from the production of oxy- 
gen, necessarily falls to the ground ; and as no evi- 
dence of this decomposition afterwards remains. 
Uechcrches Chiin. p. L 2'2'2. i Ibid, p, 224. 
