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EXPERIMENT III. 
“ But if the earth, instead of being mould, is a quartous sand well 
washed, no such corruption was observed to take place.” 
EXPERIMENT IV. 
“ This same plant, being divested of all earth adhering to its roots, 
enclosed for the same period in atmospheric air, instead of diminishing its 
oxygen, was found to have increased it to a very considerable degree.” 
CONCLUSION. 
Hence we may conclude, that the surrounding atmosphere is con¬ 
tinually decomposed by the earth, and that the vital air imbibed into it 
is one of the chief agents of Nature in the process of vegetation. r 
