JULY, 1811.

Engravings of the following Subjects: 1. Figures to illustrate the Formation of

the Leaves of Firs, and their Fructification, and the Motion of the Flower of

the Barberry; delineated by Mrs. Agnes Ibbetson. 2. A Diagram, Illustrat-

ing the Radiation of Cold, by Marshall Hall, Esq.

I. On the manufacturing of Thread, and Articles resembling Flax, Hemp,

Tow, and Cotton, from the Fribres of the common Nettle. By Mr. Edward

Smith, of Brentwood, Essex

161

II. Description of an improved Reaping hook for Corn. By Mr. Joseph Hutton,

Jun. of Ridgway, near Sheffield

171

III. Report of Messrs. De Prony, Charles Montgolfier, and Carnot, to the

French Institute, on the Invention of a new Engine, by Mr. Cagniard-

Latour, formerly Pupil at the Polytechnic Scho

175

IV. Description of an Instrument for facilitating the Reduction of Plans; by

Mr. de la Chabeaussiere
179

V. On Mortars and Cements; Experiments that show the Cohesion which

Lime contracts with Mineral, Vegetable, or Animal Substances; extracted

from a Paper read to the French Institute the 17th of October, 1808, by

B. G. Sage

VI. Observations on the Alkaline Metalloids; by M. Bucholz

181

183

VII. Farther Observations and Experiments on Oximuriatic Acid, by J. Mur-

ray, Lecturer on Chemistry, Edinburgh

187

VIII. Description of Firs, illustrated by Dissections. By Mrs. Agnes Ibbet-

son

202

IX. On the Motion of the Flower of the Barberry. In a Letter from Mrs.

Agnes Ibbetson

-

213

X. An improved Method of cultivating the Alpine Strawberry. By Thomas

Andrew Knight, Esq. F. R. S., &c.
214

XI. On the Nature of Heat. By Marshall Hall, Esq. In a Letter from the

Author

215

XII. On some of the Combinations of Oximuriatic Gas and Oxigen, and on

the Chemical Relations of these Principles to inflammable Bodies. By

Humphry Davy, Esq. LL. D. Sec. R. S. Prof. Chem. R. I. F. R. S. E.

Scientific News.

222

236

AUGUST,

5

AUGUST, 1811.

Engravings of the following Subjects: 1. Diagrams illustrative of the Motion

of Rockets, by W. Moore, Esq. 2. A new Thrashing Machine, invented.

by H. P. Lee, Esq. 3. A screw adjusting Plough, by Mr. Thomas Balls.

4. An improved Implement for extirpating Docks and Thistles, by Mr.

J. Baker. 5. A Pair of expanding Harrows, by Mr. Wm. Jeffery.

I. On the Motion of Rockets both in Nonresisting and Resisting Mediums.

By W. Moore, Esq.

241

IL On the Defective Algorithm of Imaginary Quantities. In a Letter from a

Correspondent

254

III. On the Nature of Heat. By Marshall Hall, Esq. In a Letter from the

Author

257

IV. On a Combination of Oximuriatic Gas and Oxigen Gas. By Humphry

Davy, Esq. LL. D. Sec. R. S. Prof. Chem. R. I.

260

V. Description of a new Thrashing Machine, invented by H. P. Lee, Esq. of

Maidenhead Thicket

274

VI. Account of a Substitute for Hemp, prepared from Bean Stalks. By the

Rev. James Hall, of Chesnut Walk, Walthamstow

278

VII. A Chemical Analysis of Sodalite, a new Mineral from Greenland. By

Thomas Thomson, M. D. F. R. S. E. Fellow of the Imperial Chirurgo-

Medical Academy of Petersburgh

285

VIII. Account of a primitive Gypsum. By Mr. Daubuisson, Mine Engineer 292

IX. Farther Observations on the Fructification of the Firs. In a Letter from

Mrs. Agnes Ibbetson
295

X. Description of a Screw adjusting Plough, invented by Mr. Thomas Balls,

of Saxlingham, near Holt, Norfolk

298

XI. An improved Implement for extirpating Docks and Thistles: by Mr. J.

Baker, of West Coker, near Yeovil, in Somersetshire

301

XII. Description of a Pair of Expanding Harrows, applicable both for clean-

ing foul Land, and harrowing in Seeds. By Mr. William Jeffery, of Cotton

End, Northampton

302

XIII. Observations on an occasional Increase and Decrease of Bulk in the Hair

of the Head. In a Letter from Thomas Forster, Esq.

303

XIV. On the Prevention of Damage by Lightning. In a Letter from Mr. B.

Cook

305

XV. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Cordier, Mine Engineer, on Mount-

Mezin

Scientific News

-

310

312

SUPPLEMENT

SUPPLEMENT TO VOL. XXIX.

Engravings of the following Subjects: 1. Mr. Davis's Fire-escape. 2. Mr.

W. Moult's Filtering Apparatus. 3. Mr. B. Smith's Method of relieving

a Horse, that has fallen in the Shafts of a loaded Cart. 4. Mr. J. Taylor's

Extractor of foul Air from Mines, &c.

1. Method of assisting the Escape of Persons, and the Removal of Property

from Houses on Fire: by Mr. John Davis, No. 7, John Street, Spitalfields 321

II. New Method of applying the Filtering Stone for purifying Water: by Mr.

William Moult, No. 37, Bedford-Square

324

III. Method of raising a loaded Cart, when the Horse in the Shafts has fallen :

by Mr. Benjamin Smith, No. 11, Turnham place, Curtain road, Shore-

ditch
326

IV. Method of Ventilating Mines, or Hospitals, by extracting the foul Air from

them: by Mr. John Taylor, of Holwell, near Tavistock
330

V. On the Processes employed to cause Writing to disappear from Paper, to

detect the Writing that has been substituted, and to revive that which has been

made to disappear; Improvement of common Ink; a Notice of a new Ink,

that resists the Action of chemical Agents: by B. H. Tarry, M. D. 339

VI. On the Sense of Smell in Fishes: by Mr. C. Duméril

344

VII. On the Alum Mines of Aubin, in the Department of the Aveyron: by

Mr. L. Cordier, Engineer in Chief, &c.
352

VIII. The Croonian Lecture, on some Physiological Researches respecting the

Influence of the Brain on the Action of the Heart, and on the Generation of

animal Heat. By Mr. B. C. Brodie, F. R. S.

359

IX. Notes by Mr. J.-H. Hassenfratz on the Disoxidation of Oxide of Iron by

Hidrogen Gas.
370

X. Determination of the Quantity of Hidrogen and of Ammonia contained

in the Amalgam of Ammonia: by Messrs. Gay-Lussac and Thenard, 380

XI. On the Decomposition of some vegetable or animal Substances subjected to

the Action of Heat: by Mr. Gay-Lussac.

S

382

XII. Remark on Mr. Moore's Paper on the Motion of Rockets. In a Letter

from a Correspondent.

Index

384

385

On the Interior of Plants. Letter II. By Mrs. AGNES

SIR,

IBBETSON.

To Mr. NICHOLSON.

I Shall now give a regular history of buds, and their man

ner of growing, as it has been hinted to me, that the sketch I gave in my last was not sufficiently explanatory and ample, considering the importance of the subject to botany, its novelty, and how little the real formation of the interior of plants is understood. It is certain, that the diligence of gardeners has far exceeded the labour of physiologists in this respect, and established first from accident, and then from practical experience, many rules, which should have been suggested and taught by the philosophers of botany; but I believe the scientific part of this science seldom travels as fast as the practical, and that it is usually left for the former to account for the reason why the process is good or bad, after it has been thoroughly established. But this may not always be the case; when once we have a thorough knowledge of the "interior formation of plants", the sciVOL. XXIX, No. 131.-MAY, 1811. B. entific

others. - The whole plant is formed of leaves, till flowering time, except the root, (which in every respect agrees with other plants, having the same divisions between the root and leaves, as I discovered between the root and stem in other plants, and which I called the grand obstruction): but when the time arrives for the plants to become prolific, there tans up from the root a slender thread, at first like packthread, within the axil of the leaf, and under the cuticle. This by degrees increases. It is composed of many little parcels of the germe of buds, in each of which is the knot of the line of life. As they rise, they enlarge, till, too much swelled for confinement, they burst forth into flowers; appearing to grow from the leaf: but they have in reality no connexion with it, except that of borrowing from it the spiral and nourishing vessels, which run into the corolla. I have traced the palm when just going to flower: for though from the want of air in the hothouse, it had never flowered, yet the buds were within. I found more in the root just ready to run up, and some half way; it is exactly made like the grasses, and like the arums, and every plant of that kind which has no stem; but in palms it is impossible to know all this without dissecting one. This order of plants flowers in various ways, but generally, at the top of the plant. The grasses carry up their diminutive buds through the flower stalk, one by one, with the line of life. In the arums it is very easy to trace the buds, but they increase more and in a quicker manner than in most of this class,

4th sort of bud. My fourth sort of bud is confined within a bulbous root. This explains itself; it begins at the root, and completes its form, more than is usual in any other plant, except those of the ranunculus tribe. Before it leaves the root all its parts are generally designed; they only enlarge, and the peduncle grows and raises them to view, having the bud at the top, hence the histories of the flowers to be found within the bulb. There are many however, that by no means resemble, what they are to be, any more than many germes, when first concealed in the bud; because the parts are yet seldom proportioned to each other. The tulip and hyacinth are peculiarly perfect in the bulb.

I have now given a simple account, sufficient to make all understand