The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-05-15

feet. and as it incr, ed in length was pushed
along agair st them. The extent and velocity
%, the terminal motion we're doubtless great
est in August when growth was most rapid
/ The record, however, was made in Novem Der
The time occupied in Zach revolution was
variable, and the long diameter Of the ciipSc
.d,>cribed, which WAS HORIZONTAL mCaSurtd
ab1ul two inches.
II he tendriS Of the SqnaSh-vine were pro-
duccd ut the nodes, and the main stalk was
hollow and divided into several branches al
y pnint three or four inches distant from the
vine These branches spread out IN various
directions and attained length of SIX or eight
inches Each branch gradually Strengthened
out from the coil in which II first appeared
and increased in length When about two
thirds developed it began to rcvolvc, so that
its hooked tip described an cllpsc several
inches in diameter. It's revolution was made
by a series Of bendings, in such way as not
to twist itself The tcndrils moved in the
same direction with the tip Of the vine, but
somewhat irrcguarly both rs to time and to
the figure described. During the day the
cllipse was bread, and at night long and mar
row. Usually the motion was scarcely per
ccptible to the eve, but sometimes II moved
two inches ia five minutes. The average
time of revolution in November was about
three hours. If touched by the finger on the
sensitive or inner side of the tcndrl bent To-
ward The place where the ingcr was, and,
not finding it, Strengthened itself again. III,
however, it came In contact with any other
object to which it could cling, it bent at the
point of contact and the concayc curvature
extended along the inside of the branch until
the extremity was wound closely around the
support Other branches would also iasten
to the same object, if possible. The tcndril,
thus attached, increased in size and tirmnesS,
and soon cOiled upon itself in doublc-re-
verscd spiral so as to exert strain OF the
support All the branches having done this
they pull together and must fall together ii
nj all,
Another most obvious benefit derived
from this double spiral is the elasticity OF
the fastening, which greatly dimniShes the
danger of rupture by violence. fthc tcndrilS
of the squash failed in finding Il support the
branches then coilcd upon themselves and
the main stalk often turned back along the
vine
"Thc habits of climbing plants have been
studied By Mr.. Charles Darwin and others;
but this field for research is by no means cX-
haustcd. The tcndris of the grape vine are
not very sensitive bat tasten themselves very
firmly to - suitable support. The tcndrilS OF
inc COUt'l HNAItlItNS III lpI-, bi dllNiihS A''N
tipped with woody claws. They are extern
slons Of the pcliolc OF compound leaf, re
volve actively and attach themselves III 4
marvellous manner.
when a revolving branch has found sup
port it contracts 50 Us To bring its cXtremitles
in contact with 1t. The other branches seek
the same object, and rs they are sensitive on
all sides they fail III many cases to secure
firm attachment with their claws. They
therefore detach themselves from their sup
port one at a time in succession, twist go as TO
bring their claws INTO proper direction, and
then again make fast.
1T Is well known that most plants grow
towards the strongest light; but climbing
plants are sometimes exceptions. English
ivy turns its young shoots away from the
light III order that they may come in contact
with dark CbjeCts-such as rocks and trunks
of trecs-to which they then attach themselves
by short roots The tendrils of the Virginia
creeper or woodbinc are among the most
wonderful. They grow away from the light,
and send their branches into cre7ices OF old
bark and rocks Sometimes such tcndrlS
are said by Mr.. Darwin To actually show u
power of choosing one place OF attachment
in preference to another, by penetrating a
cavity and then Withdrawing to seek more
satisfactory one. As soon as the tendrlls OF
the creepcr find support the branches
spread out their tips and press them against
it. Little pads of hard, cellular tissue are
now developed mt the points OF contact, and
the tcndrl coils on itself and becomes very
tough and woody. At the end Of the first
season it dies, but remains firmly fixed to its
support for many years. Mr.. Darwin found
one, which, though ten years old, was not de
tachcd by weight Of ten pounds from the
wall to which it had adhered. '-Ncr I0r&