Seasnake. Plants near found in a subterraneous pool at the bottom of an old quarry, which had been filled up, and its surface ploughed and cropped for above a dozen of years past. The Secretary read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Maclean, of Small Isles, mentioning the appearance of a vast seasnake, between 70 and 80 feet long, among the Hebrides, in June, 1808. And he produced a list of about one hundred herbaceous Edinburgh. plants, and two hundred cryptogamia, found in the King's Park, Edinburgh, and not enumerated in Mr. Yalden's catalogue of plants growing there; communicated by Mr. G. Dow, of Forfar, late superintendant of the Royal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh. Elementory treatise on Gcology. Mr. De Luc has in the press an Elementary Treatise on Geology, which will contain an examination of some modern geological systems, and particularly of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth. We understand, that this work is translated from the French manuscript of the Rev. H. De la Fite, M. A., and will form an octavo volume. I HAVE just received some of the French Journals, that have been so long in arrear; and am informed, that the rest are on their way from Paris. From those that have come to hand I extract the following. Mr. Klaproth has discovered in mica sixteen per cent of potash. Dr. John, of Berlin, has lately described and analysed an oriental turquoise from Bisiapoor, near Corasan, which he found to contain This result verifies that of the late Lowitz. We have therefore two distinct species of the turquoise; and may give to this now mentioned Pliny's name of calaïs. Dr. John likewise conceives, that he has found a new vo- New metalj latile and acidifiable metal in the grey ore of manganese from Saxony. He obtained it by distilling the ore with sulphuric acid. The volatile metallic acid combines with a weak solution of potash put into the receiver, and tinges it crimson. From this red liquor gallic acid, or infusion of galls, throws down a chesnut brown precipitate. Prussiates immediately change the red colour to a fine lemon yellow, but without any precipitation. The carbonates do not precipitate the red solution; but if it be heated with a little alcohol, the red colour changes to a green, a smell of ether is given out, and then the carbonates throw down a brown oxide, which is soluble in muriatic acid. Mr. Bucholz has found, that the schorliform beryl of Ba- Bavarian varia is a true beryl containing 0.12 of glucine. Mr. Braconnot has analysed some fossile horns of an extraordinary size found in an excavation at St. Martin, near Commercy. He supposes these to have been the horns of the great wild ox, the urus of the ancients, aurochs of the Germans. From a hundred parts he obtained beryl. Analysts of some fossil horns. To CORRESPONDENTS. Mr.Ibbetson's and Mr. Rootsey's Papers, and Mr.Thompson's Analysis of Sulphate of Barytes, will appear in our next number. Meteorolo For MAY, 1809, Kept by ROBERT BANCKS, Mathematical Instrument Maker, in the STRAND, LONDON. 26 Air chilly, The whole day. Too cloudy at 11 and afterward, to observe the eclipse. with rain Lightning at 11 P. M. At 10 high wind with lightning-sultry hot. In the afternoon tremendous thunder and lightning with heavy rain. A JOURNAL NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, AND THE ARTS. JULY, 1809. ARTICLE I On the Impregnation of the Seed, and first Shooting of the Nerve of Life, in the Embryo of Plants. In a Letter from A. IBBETSON, Esq. SIR, FOR many years botany and the study of the anatomy of plants have been my favourite occupation in solitude, nor had I any intention to subject that, which was undertaken only as a recreation, to the notice of the public: but some curious details having occurred, which appear to me not well known, if you think them worthy a place in your excellent Journal, they are at your service. The very exact description that has been given by many Difficulties in intelligent botanists of the growth of the infant plant, from the study. the time the seed is ripe for the Earth, renders it unnecessary for any one to repeat, what has been so well detailed; but there are curious particulars, preceding this time, of which little is said, and still less understood; which I have VOL. XXIII. No. 103. JULY, 1809. M long Impregnation of the seed. long made my particular study, though I haye had to en counter difficulties not a little discouraging, and in the investigation of which such patience is required, as would deter the most laborious students; beside the necessity of a most powerful solar microscope for opake objects; to which is added, improvements not generally applied, and which causes it greatly to excel in clearness of vision. The investigation I mean is, "The impregnation of the seed; and the first shooting of the infant plant, or rather of the germe or vessel which precedes it." It is almost impossible to ascertain the exact time when the seed is first formed in the pericarp. I have always found them in the winter bud, where there is any large enough for dissection. It is most curious to see the vessels, which may properly be Outward form called the life, tracing their way to each flower bud; for a of the seed, seed may be said to depend for perfection on two separate moments: the one in which life first enters the seed, when the whole outward form appears to be perfected; and the second, when the impregnation of the seed takes place, by the ripening of the pollen, as I shall hereafter show. But when the life enters, it leaves a little string, and afterward remains a long time in a torpid state. This string crosses the corculum, or heart of the seed, so called because it is the cradle of the infant plant. Two distinct organs attaching the seed to the seed vessel, The seed is attached to the seed vessel by two distinct organs, which the first botanists have agreed to call the umbilical cord; but I think they are improperly so named, since they do not convey the nourishment to the infant plant, which is wholly the office of the second set of vessels. The first is, I conceive, the life of the plant, since without it the plant dies, and with it uninjured, every other part may by degrees be eradicated, and will grow again. I have tried the experiment on many thousands, and never failed. These delicate simple vessels, carrying a juice of a parti eular nature, are to be traced in every part, lying between the wood and the pith. Nature has plainly shown their consequence, by denying them to the leaf bud; (and what gardener would take the leaf bud to bud with? None; for it possesses not the life) but Providence by a sort of instinct pugst curious teaches it to pass by the leaf bud, and proceed |