Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-28
Do Plants Eat Meat

EXPERIMENTS UPSETrISG DAKWINIaS THEORY
There IS no dispute as 10 the fact that the 50
called carniy0rOuS plants do capture and Kill
uhWafy insects. But there are still many per.
Sons OF SCUM mind who are not prepared to as
sell hat tie:e ruel vegetables actually dige 81
and absorb t er prey, and grow fat on the diet
taken in this ANOMALOUS fashion. Some time
ago II vas asserted IN a scientific jOurnIl that
Mr.. Francis Darwin had demonstrated the
SOilndneaS OF his iiuStriOuS fathers well known
theory on this subject by feeding On butcher.
meat certain number OF these plants, While
an equal number were allowed TO grow in the
same soil and under the same general con-
ditiOnS, and the result was difference In
growth and product much in favor bf the me 1t
fed plants This statement falling under the
eye Of MI. Peter Henderson, that gentleman re-
solved himself into an investigating committee
and the details Of his experiment are set forth
In the Gardeners Monthly for December. Mr.
Henderson procured from North Carolina a
Muscipula, cleansing them thoroughly, aud
placed 100 plants in each OF two boxes furnished
with soil similar to that in their native habi-
tat. The plants were as nearly. alike as posi-
BILE in size and yigOr, and were placed together
In cool green house. over one box, however,
was placed a very fine wire netting, to exclude
bugs and other game in which these animated
plants in box No. were allowed the full grau-
ncatl0n OF their predatory prOpenSitieS. OF
course, the uncovered plants closed their sharp
bristles over many an imprudent fly, and be-
sides they We're regularly fed when game was
scarce; but after three months of careful treat
ment, there was no dScernibe difference in
size between the starved plants and the pam
pered ones, although the entire lot had made d
wonderfully healthy growth. On one occasion
a distinguished botanlStfrom Washington, VINO
Is a thorough believer in the carniyorOuS plant
doctrine, While discussing the results OF tha eX-
pertinent With Mr.. Henderson, turned a migli-
Tying glass upon some diosa6eas at hand, and
showed what seemed to be minute species Of
snail IN almost every one OF the closed leaf
traps. There" said the botanist, triump hant-
", mature has placed the food-the animal
I0Gd-dlrectly i'll the jaws OF the plants, where
ii Is needed for their nourlShment. Isn't this
cohcluSlVe!' But subsequent observation
she" Ell that the animals were not dgeSted On
The contrary. they dourshet; In the SO called
gastric Juice which the plant ezude5, according
IL the theory, for their llaceTation. The car
nlEorouS plants 1aied ID deyour the animals
but the hefbirOrOtis' mOllu3ks in Cine wlxed
strong, and eat up the plants Nov a thea sand
eXI eiimehUS Will the same re sutL would no.
prove that plants d. no eat Insects aud euiov
them. They would aJ beab Only Show L.tj. nle
plants gave no evidence Of being iioI!r3 lei 81.
stimulated b. JhiS fGud-f food IL Is But on
the contrary, tie 80 called argument so often
urged by D3i WinianS--to sit. tilag the ntaa,S
IIust digest Tie Insects hegduSe 40 GUaet' 81 H.
clent rta,0n can be a-s med for their cpi!c.,lct
- tHIC - nl4Sil liotdCgDib. LOW Ii0 we hnOS
that tie pants d not capture the Insects "
fGn, or oN5 OF pure Ee.,etabe cu,s0dne IS! i y
I. TrlJit.sc