76 
Air drawn from the water of the Seine., tried by the same eudiometer., 
gave nearly the same diminution. 
Air drawn from rain-water was, on the other hand,, diminished ^ by 
phosphorus from 32 to 40 degrees. 
As the mean of a great number of experiments was 35 degrees, it thence 
follows that the proportion of oxygen in the air obtained from rain-water, 
newly fallen, is greater and more considerable than that contained in 
atmospheric air, and in the air of other waters. 
Sir Francis Ford discovered, that seeds germinated much sooner, and 
became more vigorous, when he moistened the pot containing them with 
water impregnated with oxygen air*. 
Since rain-water thus differs from pump and other waters by the quan¬ 
tity of oxygen held in solution, and since oxygen has so great an influence 
on germination and on vegetation, as is proved by the experiments of 
Ingenhoxjsz, Senebier, and Sir Francis Ford, it is but just to ascribe to 
it a part of the peculiar action which rain has on the vegetation of plants 
different from that of other water with which they may be supplied. 
* The manner water is impregnated with oxygen air is as follows. The pump, or river water, 
must be first boiled, which forces out the atmospheric air from the interstices of the water, and being 
afterwards placed in contact with the oxygen air , as it cools, it imbibes this enlivening principle. 
