Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-19
From sse I'ort Folio far Time 1915.
VEGTTAnLE AYRnsIoN


n striking instance ofthls phenomenon maybe
deserved near the eng ne house, which starils on
ne center square in Philadelphia Within In.
fnciosure surrounding that building. are planted
several parts ofthe square, cont gso,,s rows az
nose two well known trees, the Lombardy and
Nu'enian PoPiars. They are placed at such :.
listance, as to have ample room To rice IN an m
ght direction without al all interf.rnr vii,
Zach Others branches This direction. h0wever
ne Athsnian poplar does not pursue II mani
'ests strong and deep roo,ed aversion frorr -.
iesnoor the Lombardy, by endesvoring to get as
ar out OF IT'S immediate vrcin.ty as po,s.nle.-
with this view II incines very c,rz;der,LI,, -;
ne opposite direction from that in which its
eighborstands. Hence, within the encIosnr.
neht,oned' rows of The Athenian poplar m he.
zen leaning with great regularity towards thu
our Cardinal points OF the compass Tboec
LANDING on the south SIDE Of the Lombzrdy lear,
the south, those on thenortIi towards tn enortb-
on ue east towads the east and those on the
vest towads he west, m e.ich instance Sena,.,-
g 10 as great distance rs pracs,ca6le rom
heir offensive ne .ghbors.
hNhough, as we have already stated :. ;e MT
our intention Tn enter irto a serins 4 ..~.,-.s,,
IN tiis subject, we may MISUNDERSTANDING he ne--
".e'ei 70 ask whence proceeds the pienoine-
on ~ question, fnot from instructive We
5'Davie Wersonf We know that natIarlists
'tand prepared with a reply. Veee,sbIes' a.,
Iney' nave an attraction for. light. or Which,
mounts IN the present case to the same tb,--
are attracted By light. The Lornbardv Ponlsc
n'erPoseS as an opaque body, excluding frorr,
ne Atneh an part ofthe light which would
.ues"ise ran on the SIDE that is next TO it
Hence. larger portion falling on the on-,os;.e
SIDE, necessarily draws it in that drect,cn-
otner words, the plant leans in that ti,rection
N quest of light eo' LUZ
were this reason TO be admitted in its fullest
extent we are unable to perceive what our phi
osopners would ganby the concession. In Pet
ny elear OF one difficulty they would fall into
chars.S ~ 10y great: 1t would be, at least but
change OF PerPlexIties. The Athenian PonIa
say tney, has an a5ps,eney for Light Whence IS
. we reply that It may not possess an aversion,
: "eias prediction. lit love lipbt. ana
go N search OF it. why not dislike trc9bIesome
eighooF' a "a ldeayor to avoidit'
aversion implies no more of intellect than ar
lachmehtd oes; and it does appear hat - 4
mission Of the existence IN vegetables of ,-o,,..-
ties superior TO those Of dead matter. is what or
reasoneis IN this case part. culaiIy dresd -
,urSei'es, we confess that We have no fears ON
Nie 'uuJ e Whatey rpropert e. vegetables pos
IS, we're estowesl on them by a bounteou, re-
'toT' Tor tae most WISE and benfcent purposes.
'',u no evi can Passl bly befal us for obse vne-
ecnsnsslnS them In this there can surely he
10th ng OF irreIgion. The morr bigbly va
th.nk OF the works ofcreat:on, whe horsr,;,;,.l -
SSelaoie, Tie more exalted must be DIR on nor,
oi MN VINO called them into existence by an act
OF his wiH. Were we able to d scover N -.
whole fabric of nature moth ne but pure. i .en,-
poo esl intelligence, the more august would be
our our. conceptions ofnature's Con. 4 world OF an
gels wouid Communicate tn the mind moe
sublime idea than world ofmen.
IN corroboration of The hypothesis. that III.
ahthen an Poplar leans from the Iomba-d,
through thelniuence of an lnstincrive ayers;on.
We further state, that if that Tree be planted
N inc vicinity of house, or any other dead mat
ter 1T VIII ascend ina rection nearly nernnd;-
GUAR 1t VIII not uniformly, and IN any rernarks-
p,e aesr Zee bend IT'S trunk from the building in
quest OF hight Yet surely BRICK or stone Vail
IS as wen calculated for the EXCLUSION Of laht
rom II, as the branches and leaves of the LSno.
bardy Poplar. -
Inc ambitious branches ofthe Balm o. G;lead.
fig as itdoes from the south SIDE of me
plant turns very evidently from the sun IN assi-
ing aPefPendicular direction. 1t WIN not. there
9,es, 'e alleged that its aspiring motion IS pro
Au ISl,' py an instructive appetency for light
wen written d scussions on the subjects or
these curious phenomena win be taankillly r..
c.