438 
PROCEEDINGS OF tHE BRITISH ASSOCIATION, 
and confined atmosphere of the closed jars. He had placed tinder jars completely 
closed some plants of Cacti^ which had flourished more than those now so situ-*- 
ated. He did not think that animals could be sustained in the same manner, as 
they consumed all the oxygen which they inspired.—Dr. Travers remarked that 
he had seen common Mould, which was a species of Fungus, in a tube which had 
been heated and hermetically sealed for two years.—Mr. Bowman had observed 
that Droseras did not under the jars change the colour of their leaves as in open 
air. He wished to know of Dr. Graham, how long his Cacti had lived in a moist 
atmosphere; they were naturally at certain seasons of the year exposed to heavy 
rains. He thought it was very possible for plants and animals to live together. 
■—Mr. Duncan inquired, if plants were healthy and fit to be transplanted to the 
open air, when treated in this manner.—'Professor Graham stated, that the 
Cacti had lived without accession to air eighteen months. He believed that 
plants and animals might live together, provided the vessel in which they were 
inclosed was sufficiently large to enable the plants to absorb the carbonic acid gas 
expired by the animals. This would be a representation in miniature of what 
takes place in our own world.—Professor Bindley, in reply to Mr. Bowman^s 
question, stated that plants suffered little when confined in carefully closed ves¬ 
sels. From improper treatment they may become debilitated, but he had seen 
them arrive from foreign countries, when treated in this manner, in the most per¬ 
fect state of health. Want of skill in the management of those brought from 
abroad was the most frequent cause of injury. Too much water was frequently 
given to plants when just packed. They had better be placed in too dry, than in 
too moist, an atmosphere. He had seen this illustrated in plants from India; 
plants exposed to too much moisture rotted very soon. He thought the change 
of colour in the leaves of plants depended on their free exposure to light: the 
Droseras mentioned had not been exposed to the free access of light; this was 
certainly the case with the Droseras at Chatsworth, and those of Mr. Gray. The 
discovery of Mr. Ward was not only important in enabling us to import foreign 
plants, but it also rendered the ventilation of green-houses less necessary, and 
would enable gardeners to manage the artificial climate of their hot-houses with 
less difficulty. The fact that cellular plants grow best under this mode of treat¬ 
ment was well established.—Professor Graham stated that the order in which he 
had found plants to grow best, was, 1. Lycopodiums; 2. Grasses; and 3. Be¬ 
gonias. 
Mr. PooLEY then made a few remarks on some Swallows which he had found 
embedded in ice in Germany. He thought this fact involved the probability of 
the hybernation of these birds. A discussion arose, in which Mr. Allis, Mr. 
Selby, and Professor Jones, pointed out the impossibility of animals so 
