The Portland daily press., 1875-09-16
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Ten5riIs of Plants.

The movements of creeping and climbing
plants are wonderful and seem TO be endowed
with kind Of instinct This is manifest al
so by the squash, and Col. Clark alludes to
this in the Phenomena of Plant Life to which
we have referred. He says twining vines,
like the hop, the bean, and the morning
glory, exhibit revolving movement of their
extremities, until they come in contact with
some object around which to coil. Each spe-
cies has its own peculiar direction, from
which most of them never vary. A few, like
the hop, wind from the right up towards the
LETT, moving like the hands of a watch; but
most, like the bean, move in an opposite di-
rection. The squash, however, is not twin
ing plant, but climbs by means Of tendrils.
Nevertheless, the tip OF a growing vine re-
wolves continually from left over to right, in
evident search for a support.
Mr.. J. j. III. Gregory informs us that if
single be set into the ground near the tip OF
a growing squash vine, it will, in q day or two
be seen turning towards it; and that if the
shingle be removed to the opposite side, the
direction of the vine will again be changed.
He also states that he has observed a squash
vine, after running along on the ground
ten or twelve feet, and then passing under
the branches OF a tree which were four feet
aboveit, to stop and turn upward towards its
branches. After growing in this direction
till it could no longer sustain itself, the vine
fell to the ground; but instead of proceeding
horizontally, it again rose into the air, again
to fall. A third effort was made before the
plant was willing to give up and trail humbly
on the earth.
The end of the vine under observation was
constantly elevated to the sash bars and grass
above it, sometimes to the height of two feet,
and as it increased in length was pushed
along against them. The extent and velocity
of the terminal motion was doubtless greatest
in August, when growth was most rapid.
The record, however, was made in November.
The time occupied in each revolution was va
riable, and the long diameter of the elipse
described, which was horizontal, measured
about two inches.
The tendrils OF the squash vine were pro-
duced at the nodes, and the main stalk was
hollow and divided into several branches at
point three CT four inches distant from the
vine. These branches spread out in various
directions, and attained a length of six or
eight inches. Each branch gradually straight
ened out from the coil in which it first ap-
peared and increased in length. When about
two.thirds developed, it began to revolve, so
that its hooked tip described an eipse several
inches in diameter. Its revolutions was
made by q series of bendings, in such a Wav
as not to twist ITSELF The tendrils moved in
the same direction with the tip of the vine,
but somewhat irregular both as TO time and
to the figure described. During the day the
elipse was broad, and at night long and mar
row. Usually, the motion was scarcely per-
ceptible to the eye, but some times it moved
two inches in five minutes. The average
time of revolution in November was about
three hours.
If touched by the finger on the sensitive or
inner side, the tendril bent toward the place
where the fingers was, and not finding it,
Strengthened itself again. If, however, il
came in contact with any object 10 which it
could cling, it bent at the point of contact,
and the concave curvature extended along
the inside =of the branch until the extremity
was wound closely around the support. Other
branches would also fasten 20 the same OBJ
ject, if possible. The tendril thus attached
increased in size and firmness, and soon coed
upon itself in double reverse spiral,
so as to exert strain on the support. All
the branches having done this, they pull to-
gether, and must fall together, if at all.
Another most obvious benefit derived from
this double spiral, is the elasticity of the fast
ening, which greatly diminishes the danger
ofrupture by violence. If the tendrils of the
squash failed in finding a support, the branch
es then coiled upon themselves, and the main
stalk often turned back along the vine.-MdS-
Sdchusetts PtoagbmGn.