[211]

Aug 31 1880 2º30 P.M

Beans

[in margin in pencil:] Keep for Distribution

About 2 dozen beans (of last year) put in excess of water on 29th at 7º P.M—  Water now brownish —  does not smell bad swarms with Bacteria & infusoria.—  with a pellicle on surface consisting in parts of innumerable Bacteria & in other part of minute dark dots —  perhaps germs of Bacteria.

Sept 1. Evaporated 2 oz left a surprising crust of yellowish brown residue with peculiar smell —  When scraped together so dark brown as to be almost black —  burn into brittle black crumb of carbon.

(Sept 3rd 8º 30 a.m. planted 3 germinated beans in 2 pots with the yellow sand —  gave 3 oz of Tank water to one pot & 3 oz of above Bean fluid to other pot.) Repeated twice with a new infusion from other pot of Beans

Sept 15 1 oz of first infusion

—  18th another oz.

(over)

[211v]

(Bot. Jahresbericht. Jr 1877 published 1879. p. 524

good reference on percentage washed out of seed— 13 per cent after 80 days. Get book —  if my experiments left out anything.— )

The effect of the infusion was to give great luxuriance to the Seedlings in comparison with those watered at same time with water—  at first the difference was wonderful those watered with the infusion being double the height. Roots likewise more developed. This manuring effect shows how much matter passes out of the seeds —  argument for distribution, bears on naked & brightly colored seeds —  see F. Müller at end of old Note Book.