New-York tribune., 1878-12-20
no pL1ATS EAr MEAT,

There IL no dispute as to the fact that the So
called carniyorous plants do capture and
kill unwary insects. But there are still
many persons of sound mind who are
not prepared to assert that these cruel
vegetables actually digest and absorb their
prey, and grow fat on the diet taken IN
this anomalous fashion. Some time ago it
was asserted in a scientific journal that
Mr. Francis Darwin had demonstrated the sound
Dess Of his illnslrous fathers weli-known theory
on tins subject, by feeding ON butchers meat GER
tain number of these plants while an equal number
were allowed TO grow in the same soil and under
the same general conditions, and the result was
difference in growth and product much in favor OF
the meat-fed plants. This statement falling under
the eye Of Mr.. Peter Henderson, that gen.
tleman resolved himself into an investigating
committee, and the details of bis experiment are
set forth in The Gardeners Monthly for December
Mr. Henderson procured from North Carolina large
number Of healthy specimens OF DionGd UHscPHH,
cleanscd them thoroughly, and placed 100 plants
in each Of two boxes furnishedwlth soil similar TO
that IN their native habitat. Tho plants were as
nearly alike as passble in size and vlgor, and were
placed together in a cool greenhouse. over
one box, however was placed Il very fine
wire netting to exclude bugs and other
game IN which these animated fytraps are sup
/
were allowed the full qualification of their prcda-
tory propensites OF course. the uncovered plants
closed their sharp brstcs over many an imprudent
! ny, and besides this they were regularly fed when
game was scarce but after three months OF careful
treatment there was no disCernible difference IN
| size between the starved plants and the pampered
| ones although the entire lot had made wonder
fully healthy growth.
On one occasion distinguished botanlst from
! Washington wdo is thorough believer in the car
nyorOus plant doctrine. while discussing the
results OF the experiment with Mr. Henderson turned
! a magnifying glass upon some dORGds at hand,
| aud showed what seemed to be n minute species Of
snail IN almost every one of the closed leaf-raps.
| There" said the botanist, trumphantlv. Mature
| has plnced the food-the animal food-directIy III
the jaws Of the plants, where is needed for Their
| uourshmcnt. Isn't this conclusive rUBut subsc-
! duent observation showed tnat the animals were
| not dlgrsted. On the contrary, they honrished in
the so-called gastric juice winch the plant eXudcs,
according TO the theory, for their maceration. The
| carniyorous plants failed To deyOur the animals,
| but the hcrblyorous molluscs IN time waXcd
| strong and eat up the plants. Now a thou
| sand experiments with the Same result would
not prove that plants do not cat insects and enjoy
| them. They would ut best only show that the
| plants give no evidence of being nOurished
| or stimulated by this food-if food II Is.
Bnt on the contrary the so-called argument so often
urged by Darwlniaus. to wit. that the plants must
digest the insects because other sufficient reason
can be assigned for their conduct; is quite unsat
! isfactorv. How do we know that the plants do not
capture the insects for fun out Of pure veseta
! bic cussednessf