22 
REPORT- 1847* 
was evident from the tact, that germination under the influence of the deepest 
coloured solution of the ammoniate of copper, provided it was transjHrent, 
was always more rapid than in the dark. 
It is evident therefore, that this first spring of vitality is due to some power 
or principle of solar origin, whicii is verj* broatlly distinguished from the lo* 
minous or colour-giving principle. The manner in which this power Uextrierf 
on seed beneath the .soil is not clear to us ; we know not if it is a mer»* dis¬ 
turbance of something already diffused through mutter, nr an emanationfton 
the sun : all we are enabled to declan' is, that the yrrmination uf stid 'awm 
rapid under thv influence of dte ttclinic rays, scpnniietl from the liuniaouiwor 
than it is uruler the injltu'-uce. of the. combined Ttulitiiions ttr in the dark. 
Sennebier (Physiofogie Vegetable, tome troisiemc, although not ac¬ 
quainted with the properties of the chemical principle as separalisl froDi light 
has, in reply to some objections of Bcrtliolon (Journal de Pbysinne, 17Sf)),wbo 
attributed the differences ob^ervtHl between the influences ofligutandcUrkDe* 
on germination to the varying nitcs of evaporation under tlie dUsimilar con¬ 
ditions, related some experiments on the germination of peas, beans, 4c~ 
“ places sur dea epongcij egulemcnt humidcs enfermeeti sous de petits rvci- 
piens seinhlablos ct d'une £*goIe capaclte,” which art; conclusive; and in afcl- 
lowing paragraph he places the question in its true view, as far as the lumi¬ 
nous rays are coucerned in the phtenomcna:— 
“ II parait done que la lumi^re rctardc la germination, ct eVst pourpK- 
venir ce refardement, quo les gmities semees doivont clre couvertes de tetre," 
«Src. Ingciihousz (Kxpcrienci-s sur la Vegetation, vol. ii.) has shown that 
seed deposited in tbo durkncas of the soil gevininates sooner than in the 
light. ^ 
These facts my experiments go to establish; and in addition, tliev prov( 
.t ibnr. .v..,. .. .-..n. •.... , will, ligh^ whicl 
—; —j • •liis.ui.s jiu io estaousi 
a icrc exists an influence which is alwtws asauciuted wUIi light, wl 
iIm!. r*’® accelerating the jiroces-s by which the embryo swell 
I its radicle into the soil, and shoots it 
cotyledons upwards towards the light. 
Im -“n® toicrohW well understoo.; 
le seed, a Ingi.ly carbonized body, is placed in a positimj by uhichitsstard 
',o) IS changed into-.V . J 
- - absorption « 
borne acid (CO,) is formed. 
Thf I • 11 t prfmcs.s arc tolerably well understoo 
fC carbonized body, is placed in a position by uhichitsstan 
bonie acid fCO ?e.xperiment has shown that ra 
the blackiimPnf I, ihc «anic in character i 
sunshine W'ifhoiit t\! ” nitrate of silver, holding organic matter.iod 
it a combination with unebangod; wii 
organic particles take t».« is etfected nt the same turn* astj 
luminous action, and the ^ o» nctuuc power, and independent ' 
character. The cotvli.rUnl i^ ^ Process of conversion in the seed is of a li( 
soil, the conditions are tmtinVvTf I'>‘in»da exposed above tl 
to ensure vigorous vegetation. 'nfliicDces become necessaJ 
have permeated* th'if Wuo* ^'^7 utiilor tho influence of the rays wb'C 
luxuriant growth, and i>rr.a .,7 ®^ploynd, it will for some time exhibit 
to that of plants crown iind*« r th stages an npi>earance far superK 
light: the leaves^vill bo of n modified influences, or even under whil 
signs of vigorous healtli Vx. V*"* “oJ altogether externally »h^ 
found, however, tlm tl m 1*^ • "“f****^' of growth it iiU b 
fluonces of yellow or red sunshine, or under ibc » 
principles, give a larger luminous and calorifi 
arger (luantity of woody fibre and less water than tho* 
