no substance soluble in water was added to the charcoal, it was moistened with 20 grammes of water, after having introduced the insoluble substances. The seed was planted in the charcoal, prepared as we have just described, after having undergone the commencement of germination in perfectly pure charcoal. The plants were watered with distilled water, and placed in the window of a room exposed to the sun, and of a southern aspect. The mineral substances were, moreover, prepared with much care; their purity was previously tested. The silicates of potassa and soda were prepared by dissolving with heat uncalcined silica in a concentrated alkaline ley. Phosphate of lime was obtained by double decomposition with nitrate of lime and phosphate of ammonia. The oxide of iron was obtained by precipitating the nitrate of sesquioxide of iron by succinate of ammonia and calcining the precipitate so as to obtain a mixture of sesquioxide and protoxide. We now briefly give the results of the experiments undertaken by the author : 1. No mineral substances, and no nitrogenous matters; plant extremely slight, weighing only 0.05 grammes after desiccation. 2. No mineral substances; the charcoal was moistened with a solution of 0.04 grammes of carbonate of ammonia in 20 grammes of water; the same solution was employed for watering the vegetable during the experiment. Plant very slight. Leaves green and longer than in the foregoing experiment. The stem, 74 inches high, bore a flower which did not fructify. The dried plant weighed 0.05 grammes. 3. No mineral substances: the charcoal was moistened with a solution of 0.1 gramme of carbonate of ammonia in 20 grammes of water. The plant died after shooting the first leaf. The solution of carbonate of ammonia was too concentrated. 4. No mineral substances: the charcoal was wetted with 20 grammes of water; then watered with a solution of 0.1 gramme of nitrate of ammonia in 20 grammes of water; 15 grammes of water was also added. The plant died after having put forth the second leaf. The roots were very short, and all turned towards the surface of the charcoal. 5. No ammoniacal matters. The following mineral matters were added to the charcoal: Silica Potassa Grammes. In this experiment less carbonate of ammonia was used, in order to compensate by this diminution for the quantity of nitrogen contained in the nitre. The plant grew to nine inches; it laid down, was very weak, and of a pale yellow color; the joints were enveloped by the sheaths of the leaves. A single flower was developed, which did not fructify. The dried plant weighed 0.37 gramme. 8. No potassa: mixture in the following proportions:Grammes. Hydrate of silica Carbonate of lime.. Carbonate of magnesia.. Phosphate of lime.. Sulphate of lime Nitrate of ammonia Nitrate of lime 1.0 0.5 0.05 0.1 0.1 { Dissolved in 20 grammes 0.05 0.05 of water. 0.075 0.030 The plant died before the development of 0.050 the second leaf; a second seed was planted. 0.040 It was developed in a very feeble manner, 0-030 and without bearing flowers; it attained the length of only 24 inches; its roots were long and extremely thin. 0.020 Oxide of iron, containing manganese 0.020 14. No sulphuric acid: the matters as in experiment 6, suppressing the sulphate of lime. Plant 11 inches long: leaves of a deep green, but short and narrow, and not so well developed as in the preceding experiment. Stalk normal, two flowers, no fruit; weight of the dried plant 0.12 gramme. The sulphur contained in the seed was not sufficient for the development of the plant. 15. Without sulphuric or phosphoric acid : mineral matters as in experiment 6, without phosphate and sulphate of lime, and with a supplement of 0.05 of nitrate of ammonia. Plant, 16 inches long, leaves of a deep green, stem regular, one lateral stem, two flowers without fruits. 16. Silica, potassa, and ammonia, in the following proportions : 0.070 Silica 0.080 Potassa Silicate of potassa dissolved in 20 grammes of water 0.075 0.030 0.020 0.040 0.080 Nitrate of ammonia dissolved in 20 grammes of water Grammes. Potassa Silicate of potassa in 20 0.030 Nitrate of ammonia 1 In 20 grms. { Nitrate of lime } of water. grammes of water 0.075 Phosphate of lime 0.040 0.030 Sulphate of lime.. 0.030 0.500 Nitrate of ammonia in 20 grammes 0.100 0.100 0.050 0.030 The plant attained the length of 13 inches, with a tendency to lie down; the first three leaves were very green, the following ones of a pale yellow. The dried plant weighed 0.32 gramme. 13. No phosphoric acid: the mineral matters as in No. 6, only suppressing the phosphate of lime. The plant attained the length of 16 inches: the leaves were of a deep green, but short and narrow; the stalk delicate but regular. Three flowers and a complete fruit; no lateral stalks; the dried plant weighed 0.17 gramme. The phosphoric acid contained in the seed appears to have replaced that which the soil could not furnish; only the development of the plant suffered in consequence. Potassa grammes of water Carbonate of lime .... .... .... Carbonate of magnesia Black oxide of iron... ...... .... Nitrate of ammonia in 20 grammes ...... ... Plants extremely vigorous; leaves of a 0-075 deep green; no dry spots; sheath of the last 0.030 leaf less twisted than in the preceding ex0.050 periment; last leaves of the lateral stalks 0.040 normal. 0.030 0.100 of water .... The addition of oxide of iron caused a very active vegetation. The leaves of the plant were much more vigorous than in any of the foregoing experiments; they were 12 inches long, half an inch broad, rough, and of a deep green; only, after the development of the fourth leaf, dry spots of a greenish grey color were remarked in the middle of all the leaves. Stem abnormal; joints covered with sheaths; plant 13 inches long; no flowers, but several lateral stalks. Weight of the dried plant, 04 gr. The proportion of iron was evidently too great. 21. Less iron. Mineral matters in the same proportion as in the foregoing experiment, with the exception that only 0.010 grammes of oxide of iron was added. The plant was developed in a remarkable manner. Leaves green without dry spots; stem normal, and 24 inches long; joints rather weak; five flowers, but no fruits. Weight of the dry plant, 0.49 gr. 22. Soda and iron. Mixed in the same proportion as in experiment 20, only one-third of the alkali was soda. Plant very tender; leaves green, with dry spots; no flowers. 23. Iron and manganese. Mixed in the same proportion as in experiment 20, with the addition of 0.01 grs. of the carbonate of manganese. Plant vigorous; leaves of a deep green, without dried spots. Joints stronger than in experiment 21, but partially enveloped in sheaths. The sheath of the last leaf was turned round spirally, an irregularity which appears to have arisen from an excess of manganese. Length of the principal stem, 14 inches; several lateral stalks; no flowers. Weight of the dried plant, 1.09. 24. Iron and manganese. Silica Silicate of potash in 20 grammes of water Carbonate of lime Principal stem 26 inches long; joints strong and free from sheaths. Fifteen flowers without fruit, weight of the dried plant 1.29 grammes. 25. Manganese without iron. Mixed in the proportion of experiment 20 without oxide of iron. Plant not very vigorous; leaves without spots, but pale; stem abnormal; 12 inches long; two tender flowers, without fruit, weight of the dried plant, 0.57 grammes. 26. Iron and manganese, without magnesia. Mixed as in the foregoing experiment: 0.1 gramme of oxide of iron was added. Stem and leaves less vigorous than in experiment 23; leaves of a deep green, without stains; stem abnormal. Length of the plant, 9 inches; no flower; one weak lateral stem. Weight of the dried plant, 0.36 grammes. 27. Iron, manganese, and soda, without potassa. In the foregoing mixture, 0.030 grammes of soda were substituted for the same quantity of potassa. Length of the stem, 15 inches; no flower; plant more tender than in experiment 23; the joints enveloped by sheaths. Leaves of a deep green, without stains; the last leaf was turned round several times on itself. Some weak lateral stalks were formed. Weight of the dried plant, 0.57 grammes. 28. The same mixture as in experiment 23; only the carbonate of manganese was not added until after the development of the fourth leaf, when stains began to appear. After this addition of carbonate of manganese the succeeding leaves were developed in a perfect manner; the stains were no longer exhibited, a result evidently due to the influence of manganese. In this experiment, the stem, which was very tender, attained the length of 14 inches; it bore three flowers, but no fruit. The leaves were of a deep green; the sheath of the last leaf was not twisted. The author attributes this result to the limited action of Grammes. the salt of manganese, which was applied 0-115 only on the surface. The contrary effect, 0.046 that is to say the twisting of the leaf, is pro0.500 duced by an excess of manganese. { 14. No sulphuric acid: the matters as in experiment 6, suppressing the sulphate of lime. Plant 11 inches long: leaves of a deep green, but short and narrow, and not so well developed as in the preceding experiment. Stalk normal, two flowers, no fruit; weight of the dried plant 0.12 gramme. The sulphur contained in the seed was not sufficient for the development of the plant. 15. Without sulphuric or phosphoric acid : mineral matters as in experiment 6, without phosphate and sulphate of lime, and with a supplement of 0.05 of nitrate of ammonia. Plant, 16 inches long, leaves of a deep green, stem regular, one lateral stem, two flowers without fruits. 16. Silica, potassa, and ammonia, in the following proportions : 0.070 Silica 0.080 Potassa { Dissolved in 20 grammes of water } Silicate of potassa dissolved in 20 grammes of water 0.075 0.030 0.020 0.040 Nitrate of lime Nitrate of ammonia Sulphate of lime.. Nitrate of ammonia In 20 grms. Nitrate of lime Sof water. Nitrate of ammonia dissolved in 20 grammes of water The plant died during the development of the second leaf. 17. Hydrochlorate of ammonia 0.02 grammes; nitrate of ammonia, 0.04; the rest of the matters as in experiment 6. Plant 9 inches long; weak; three flowers, without fruits; weight of the dried plant 0.24 grammes. 18. Neither lime nor magnesia, the rest of the matters in the following proportions :Grammes. Silica Silicate of potassa in 20 Grammes. grammes of water .. { 0.075 0.030 { 0.075 0.030 0.500 Nitrate of ammonia in 20 grammes 0.100 0.100 0.050 0.030 The plant attained the length of 13 inches, with a tendency to lie down; the first three leaves were very green, the following ones of a pale yellow. The dried plant weighed 0.32 gramme. 13. No phosphoric acid: the mineral matters as in No. 6, only suppressing the phosphate of lime. The plant attained the length of 16 inches: the leaves were of a deep green, but short and narrow; the stalk delicate but regular. Three flowers and a complete fruit; no lateral stalks; the dried plant weighed 0.17 gramme. The phosphoric acid contained in the seed appears to have replaced that which the soil could not furnish; only the development of the plant suffered in consequence. Nitrate of ammonia in 20 grammes of water...... Plants extremely vigorous; leaves of a 0-075 deep green; no dry spots; sheath of the last 0.030 leaf less twisted than in the preceding ex0.050 periment; last leaves of the lateral stalks 0.040 normal. 0.020 0.030 Principal stem 26 inches long; joints strong and free from sheaths. Fifteen flowers without fruit, weight of the dried plant 1.29 grammes. 0 100 0.100 The addition of oxide of iron caused a very active vegetation. The leaves of the plant were much more vigorous than in any of the foregoing experiments; they were 12 inches long, half an inch broad, rough, and of a deep green; only, after the development of the fourth leaf, dry spots of a greenish grey color were remarked in the middle of all the leaves. Stem abnormal; joints covered with sheaths; plant 13 inches long; no flowers, but several lateral stalks. Weight of the dried plant, 04 gr. The proportion of iron was evidently too great. 21. Less iron. Mineral matters in the same proportion as in the foregoing experiment, with the exception that only 0.010 grammes of oxide of iron was added. The plant was developed in a remarkable manner. Leaves green without dry spots; stem normal, and 24 inches long; joints rather weak; five flowers, but no fraits. Weight of the dry plant, 0.49 gr. 22. Soda and iron. Mixed in the same proportion as in experiment 20, only one-third of the alkali was soda. Plant very tender; leaves green, with dry spots; no flowers. 23. Iron and manganese. Mixed in the same proportion as in experiment 20, with the addition of 0.01 grs. of the carbonate of manganese. Plant vigorous; leaves of a deep green, without dried spots. Joints stronger than in experiment 21, but partially enveloped in sheaths. The sheath of the last leaf was turned round spirally, an irregularity which appears to have arisen from an excess of manganese. Length of the principal stem, 14 inches; several lateral stalks; no flowers. Weight of the dried plant, 1.09. 24. Iron and manganese. Phosphate of lime Sulphate of lime..... Carbonate of magnesia Oxide of iron...... Carbonate of manganese... .. 25. Manganese without iron. Mixed in the proportion of experiment 20 without oxide of iron. Plant not very vigorous; leaves without spots, but pale; stem abnormal; 12 inches long; two tender flowers, without fruit, weight of the dried plant, 0.57 grammes. 26. Iron and manganese, without magnesia. Mixed as in the foregoing experiment: 0.1 gramme of oxide of iron was added. Stem and leaves less vigorous than in experiment 23; leaves of a deep green, without stains; stem abnormal. Length of the plant, 9 inches; no flower; one weak lateral stem. Weight of the dried plant, 0.36 grammes. 27. Iron, manganese, and soda, without potassa. In the foregoing mixture, 0.030 grammes of soda were substituted for the same quantity of potassa. Length of the stem, 15 inches; no flower; plant more tender than in experiment 23; the joints enveloped by sheaths. Leaves of a deep green, without stains; the last leaf was turned round several times on itself. Some weak lateral stalks were formed. Weight of the dried plant, 0.57 grammes. 28. The same mixture as in experiment 23; only the carbonate of manganese was not added until after the development of the fourth leaf, when stains began to appear. After this addition of carbonate of manganese the succeeding leaves were developed in a perfect manner; the stains were no longer exhibited, a result evidently due to the influence of manganese. In this experiment, the stem, which was very tender, attained the length of 14 inches; it bore three flowers, but no fruit. The leaves were of a deep green; the sheath of the last leaf was not twisted. The author attributes this result to the limited action of Grammes. the salt of manganese, which was applied 0.115 only on the surface. The contrary effect, 0.046 that is to say the twisting of the leaf, is pro0.500 duced by an excess of manganese. { Nitrate of ammonia in 20 grammes of water..... 0.100 29. Iron, manganese, potassa, and soda; 0.030 mixed in the following proportions: 0.050 Grammes. 0.100 Carbonate of lime.... |