Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-09-08
( NO j.

and have met many who have noticed
it from south effort Towson to con-
}siderabe distance north Of Fort Leav-
enworth. In many instances those
who spoke of it derived their first inti-
nation Of its existence from that eX-
cellent officer and capital woodsman,
Captain Nathan Boone, Of LIST. regi-
ment U. S. Dragons, son of the cele-
brated Daniel Boone.
| The cause of the polarity Of this GU
rious plant yet remains to be discover
ed. Being symmetrical in shape, or
rather the weight being equally distrib-
uted about the stem, it is possible that
its sap or fibre is so thoroughly impreg-
mated with certain salts of iron as to be
deviated, from the period of its infant
growth by the action Of the magnetism
Of the earth, turning like compass
! needle on its stem or root like pivot.
That it is not caused by the action OF
light would seem probably from analo-
gy, as Vegetables acted upon by light
are noted for turning their leaves or
blossoms towards the sun instead of
from it. At midday the plane of the
Polar Plant passes through the sun,
and thus it shunS the light. | have no.
ticed it in long-continued cloudy wealth
er, and could find no alteration in it's
position.
AS the existence of the torpedo and
the electrical eel exhibit the influence
of electricity on animal life, this plant
is very interesting as showing its prob
able connexions also with vegetable
life; thus furnishing a link to supply
the chain of graduation. 1t is well
known that there are many distinguish
ed naturalists and professors Of physi-
ology who would go higher still, even
to the human frame, and predict the fl
nal discovery Of the intimate connection
between electricity and the operation
Of the nervous system. Any fact con-
nected with the action Of electricity or
magnetism supposed to be one and the
same AGENT is now especially interest
ing, when there are so many ingenious
minds throughout the world devoted to
such Investigations.
have ascertained to ny satisfaction
that this plant has been we'll known to
trappers and to many of the Indian
tribes, and that they have been in the
habit of availing themselves Tin their
tours over those vast tracts of this hum
bic but cmnipresent guide, which a
kind Providence has sprinkled over
that region, and which is thus available
in'cloudy weather, when the sun and
stars are denied them. Even if it is
granted that it is less needed by the red
man, no one will deny IFS uses to the
whites in country destined still for
long period to be roamed by hunters,
traders, pioneers, and other white men.
! will here add that Captain Boone
also states that there is spread all o.
yer the far West certain root, called
the "snake root whose juices are ve-
ry grateful to quench thirst, and which
| is found in the greatest abundance in
those parts of the prairies which are
high or dry, and most likely to be de-
priyed of water in a season of heat and
long drought.
It is needless to descant upon these
beautiful ard striking examples of the
wise provisions of Nature, furnishing a
vegetable compass and the means of
quenching thirst, eyer ready for the
wanderer, end both located in region
destined perhaps for the longest period
in the history Of the world to be Occur
| pied by rowing population. ~
J Your ob'dt serv't.
BENZ. ALVORD,
Ltpntearnt Tllited Sflites Arnn.