460 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
still this similarity, that the first owe their solidity to earthy 
phosphates, and the latter to silica and lime. Whichever 
way it is, the phosphates are certainly contained in the 
juices, and not the bodies, of plants. In removing the nitro¬ 
genous matter from plants, the phosphates are also removed, 
which, I repeat, have an existence independent of the organs, 
and circulate in vegetables to produce phenomena of a higher 
order. 
“ Some time ago, M. Payen proved that the nitrogenous 
substances of plants have a separate existence from the tissue. 
This eminent chemist has succeeded in dissolving animal 
matter by alkalies, without producing the least rent in the 
organs. 
" The dry leaves which remain in the forest during the 
winter give an ash, rich in iron, silica, and lime, but desti¬ 
tute of phosphoric acid.” 
M. Corenninder adds— 
Ci The large proportion of phosphates which are found in 
the ashes of seeds has induced me to look for it in the pollen- 
dust of flowers. A first trial upon the pollen-granules of the 
white lily taught me a fact which I consider of interest: it 
is, that these small organs contain a large proportion of 
phosphoric acid, larger even than that found in a grain of 
corn. The pollen of the lily gives a black ash, difficult to 
obtain, like that of cereals; it is very alkaline, and contains 
but little lime, magnesia, chlorine, and silica; it is formed, 
so to speak, entirely of alkaline phosphates. I have found 
in 100 parts of pollen, in a normal condition, 
Phosphoric acid . . 1*45 per cent. 
“ It must be remembered that Vauquelin has shown that 
the semen of animals contains also a large proportion of 
phosphorus. This similarity between two bodies which 
exercise the same functions in the two kingdoms is worthy 
of attention ; and, what gives still more interest to the re¬ 
mark is, that the semen gives equally a black ash, alkaline, 
but containing very little lime, magnesia, or silica, &c. The 
proportion of lime is, however, larger than in the pollen of 
flowers. The ashes of the spores of the Lycopodium ('Lyco - 
podium clavatum) also contain phosphoric acid in considerable 
quantity. In 5 grammes of the substance, perfectly pure 
and in the normal state, I have obtained 
: Phosphoric acid * . 0*92 per cent* 
