Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-06-04


As among men AMI the higher animals.
sn@ vegetable creation has its circulating.
ae a:sng. digestive, and sentiment orgaas-
cation, though lis functions aEc no. eS-
acsly The same. Thus though plsnts
have DO centre OF eirculat,on. or cen,rsl
propelling crgaa like the heart in animals.
their fluids circulate upwards and down
wards, often with rapit.i,y aud force
greatly exceeding that of the animal ma
chine Though they have no organs an
aaiosous 10 the lungs Of the gills 81 ish, the
aeraiing or respiratory functions of plants
arc performed through the medium Of the
stomas or pores situated Oh their leaves, by
means of which they part with their su
perfiuous water in the same manner as
the animal emi,s insensible respiration: and
though they have M particular
part or organ like the stomach of animals
they are endowed with the singular capa-
city ot beics all Innnth and stomach, as
they draw their nour.s..ment M, only d,
means OF their spongloes or spongele,s,
each consisting of an expanded tissue OF
small roundish cells but also by their
leaves and green bark: all OF which arc en-
dowed with AN absorbent power. The
psrspirable vessels in many plants emit II
quantity OF aqueous matter, GREATLY exceed
ing IN tIeT comparative proportion of
magnitude and capacity tha, q. the animal
machine
! That plants and vegetables have ner-'
vous or sentiment organs, analogous 10
/ those OF animals. and that their senslhiity
is exactly IN the same MANNER ~ the nerves
OF The animals are, seems evident. The
/ system OF vegetable nature is afflicted III
the same manner, by the application Of
the metallic and vegetable pois0ns, as the
nervous syste II Of the animal creation
| Different plants have been wa,eresi with
infusons Of nux yolnica, laurel water,
helladona. hemlock, prusslc acid, arsenic,
corrosive sublimate, sulphuric acid, etc.
or their roots have been stepped IN such
infusions. and the invariable result has
been the production OF rpasmodio action
on the leaves, which when So treated,
either shrunk Or cured themselves up.
and after exhibiting various symptoms Of
| lrrltah!lty, in a short time became weak.
and in the course of IA few hours died.
The tropical flowers that open or shut
| earlier or later as the length If the day in
creases or decreases, the cquinoctial flow
ers that perform the same office at certain
determinate times OF the day---the meteor
ic flowers that daily expand aud unfold
sooner or later, according to the clouducss,
moisture, and pressure of the atmosphere;
those that fold up their leaves on the sp-
proach of rain OF cloudy weather, and un-
fold them again when chccrtd by the re-
animating influence of the sun--and the
night-blowing flowers, as evening primrose,
the night Towering. cereus, and the mar
vel Of Peru which expand their t)wcrs
during the stiffness Of the night-prove
also that plants. though not endowed with
the intensity or cxellability Of the higher
grade Of animated matter, arc capable Of
sensation, and arc endowed with The prop
erty Of instructive and spontaneous loco
motion. Indeed this property Is inherent
IN the whole vegetable creation, for on the
approach of night, oil the plants except
the night blowing flowers, ttle primrose,
etc. J. fold up or droop their leaves, and
continue in that state till the rising Of the
sun, when they assume their orignal posi-
ton. Even during an eclipse, transfer
nation Of form is sensibly displayed By al!
5 flowers. And this disposition 10 the alter
nstions of rcpose and ac,lvity,is SO inheret
i IN vegetable nature, that even when plants
still observe their natural periodical in
terchangcs Of res: and ACTIVITY. When
subjected in closed rooms tolthc action oil
e artificial light by night, and excluded from
j al light by day, they in time adapt them
selves TO the new ColatitIons thus imposed
on them, and at length close their leave.
during the day, AMI unfold them at night
The duration Of their periodic states Of re
! pose and activity may also be extende,
;. and shor.cnc 4. according 10 the force .
: amoun, OF The condition imposed on them
Thus, the perlod Of the activity Of plant
;, may be diminished. by the room in which
: they are placed being Illuminated eithe
by the Introduction OF candle, Or b. BE-
. ing KEEP, closed; or ttey may be kept II
state Of repose By preventing the adnissIos
:, Of the dawn Of day.