The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-04-11
From the Scientific American.l
Plant Mind.

THE SOUL OF PLANTS AND MODkhN S'iENSE'
Vegetable physiology has made bnt
slow progress Although its beginning
may be traced to the period when Malpi
chi aided it with the microscope. its real
origin does not date earlier than the last
century, when, by his beautiful experi'
ments on the nutrition aud transpiIhtion
/ Of plants, Hales explained some curious
phenomena in the vegetable world
From that time naturalists began 20
study attentively the phenomena oi veg
citation. =.
The observations of Linn@us and lIolH
the numerous experiments OF Bonnet aud
Seneber, the works OF Duhamel, Ludwig
and MusteI, the Investigations OF II. dt
Saus,ure and Hedwig-all these efforts
tended toward the same eud namely. ,"
uniting scattered material aud iotminS
A regular whole Some OF these ~ stud
wing the lite of plants examined more
particularly the form, structure. and de
velopment of their organs while others
attempted to explain their play and tune |
tions. The result OF these lsbors was the |
birth OF two new sciences-vegeiablt |
physiology and organogrsphy
Modern Psychologists have observed
) some extraordinary phrnomena in plan,s.
with which they have been differently
imuressed They all. il Is true, r"cogniz'
a sensible analogy between these taets
and certain animal instincts; but some
see in these only isolated phenomena OF
secondary importance. and propose to
explain them by altogether mrchanical
o. phys steal theories; while others. on th-
contrary, attracted by the sineuiarity ol
these TacIs, have studied them with closr
attention, and as the result OF their ob
servations have come to the conclusion
that plant il an animated being. This
i substa antally admitted 10y Vrolik He'd
wig. Bonnet, and Ludwig in their vii
tiurs upon the phenomena which seem
10 reveal vegetable instinct They all
inclin.. to the belief that plants expert
ence every order of sensations.
Edward Smith the English boianisi
d thinks that plants can feel. and are capa
!, BILE through that faculty of conscious
ness OF well being and felicity.
a Percival believes that plants perform
"a voluntary actions when they turn THEN
n branches TO the light.
"a Among the philosophers of the eigh.
!" teenth century who saw animated beings
10 in plants must also be ranked DR. Eras-
20 mus Darwin, the grandfather OF the cele-
or brated naturalist, whose recent works
II. have thrown some light upon the vexed
- question nf the origin of species In that
,c book too little known. but the delight oil
II Goethe {. The Botanic Garden DR.. Oar
m win plainly asserts that in his eyes the
"a plant is an animated being-a creature
capable of numerous sensations. as o.
No existence, of pain. and gladDess.
"a DR. Martius, one of the most eminent
al men OF modern science. accords TO plants
ms not only the faculty of feeling, but alsf
nd an immortal soul To the voice OF tha
10. celebrated botanist there has been lately
ne added that OF another. namely, Theodore
~. Techner. an independent thinker, anf
Il ~ - (r.pr Raf
nc cotemporaries. lie was one OF the hrs
nj. TO enier into the questions which bea
ne uron the development OF the soul II
piants The new ideas and original view
ist with which his book abounds entitle IL 1
on be considered as the first advance toward
yes true vegetable psychology. soul i
nee plants was recognized by the ancienis -
ort Empedocles, Anaxagoras, pemocritu
in Pythagoras. and Plato believed plants I
i be animated and consequently ranke
! IL them with animals
P Entire peoples-the Hindoos, for e!
ample--have also regarded plants as an
hey mated beings. Among the laws of Man
,eir laws which 10 India are believed to ha'
Il il emanated from God. and TO be more a
"a cient than those OF Moses. are to be four
az doctrines and commandments as folio"
lies 1T is good and equitable that ea'
OF father OF family without prejudice
46l.. his children, should reserve one part
oy." his wealth for other animated beings,
wit plants and animals
hey plants and animals have internal
and the sentiment OF existence, and also
heir pain and happiness
m. According 10 Loubere and some 9th
and travellers the priests OF Siam and L.
race apply the law for rbidding TO kill not OF
uer to men aud animals. but also to livi
lfch plants They exhibit as much rep'
poi.. nance to the destruction OF a tree,
'sely simply the cutting OF u branch, ss to
ulav mutilation OF n man and they refuse
! IL eat OF green fruits lest their developms
Il or .hOuid be arrested. These views are
hout tirely opposed to those which belong
fond the people OF the Occdent. From e
= or liest childhood. in our schools and :
fear meutary books, children are taught q
Dear men and animals have the faculty
nj IN motion and are living beings, and q
have plants attached to the soil live, il is tr
hem but are not animated.
.otic But, as NJ. Techner has observed
day would be quite Otherwise il the precep
right said to his pupil. Animated beings
and divided into classes. One l. composed
and beings which possess the power oi IRA
porting themselves from place TO pla
,s!id these are men and animals In the OF
4 ten class we lind beings hxed I'D the
live. where they are born; these are plants
+ this I be latter resemble us less than amin
SIX. yet live and grow rs we 40, For ~
and many other reasons We believe In
EQUALLY animated If our children
thus taught they will be less indispo
when older to deprive the plant OF
are soul than we are TO recognize its eS
place 80 a, ,ba nr.sent duv
lrdhs Such numerous and striking analo
~ 90 in the vital functions OF beings in the
u 'o, Kingdoms, animal and vegetable, are
loau @ veaied by physiology every day. that
eress one can refuse to reflect upon the {
mem :, r;,ho,t copdid axaminat
ndole "" ~ J,s,,o"i,;nr ,ra ore ahout to cons
? the P,,ppooai;,,, 900, thot the nlar
ttack ~ ';.sa,ad ia sant;ent being
, true r. c.
1uous