Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-02-15
Wenders ofehe Vegetable Kinrdom.
D0PLANrs THINK?


In tracing The analogy between AMI
mais anu plants, some vi line most
striking conclusions are unavoidable.
The more we study plant life, the more
we become convinced ths. he is a
uni. varying IN form only, not in prin
cipse. Everything capabie OK repro
duction, growth, or development is
governed by the same law. What law
or pnnciple i'd life.
That plants think, Or manifest apy
power analogous to what is termed in
stiussa in animals, and the human rea-
son O. understanding, is net generally
supposed in fact it is a sub. ect bat
httleaGnderstood. Seldom dc we see a
persenvwith su6 cient coursgeeo assert
such a belief in opposition TO the pre-
valent, popular opinion to thecontrary.
The dose observer of the habits of
plants daily vita esses many manifesto
tons oil intelligence in their search for
food e in looking for support, if,olimb-
ing plants; in their persistent efforts
to have their OWE way in the perform
ance o. duty, ant more particularly in
the manner of selection of The sexes
all Of ,.hese SNORING plainly that if
plants DO not think for themselves,
some one must think for them, which
makes the analogy between them and
many m9n almost perfect.
Plants have, to the full extent of
their necessities, q power of observation
of discrimination in the selection of
their food, knowledge of where it is
to be obtained, ana the power, to y
considerable extent to obtain it. For
instance, bury the carcass of an animal
in the gaSaen say, twenty feet from the
nearest grapevine, the vine will know
it, and the underground part of the
vine will 81 once change its direction,
and make q direct march for this
new storeaOuse of food, and upon
reaching it will throw out an almost
incredible number of roots for the
consumption of the food. Let us say
here that it is mistake TO suppose
that all the underground portions of a
wine or tree age roots; they are simply
branches. The white, delicate fbres
put forth in Spring are the true roots;
they contribute to the growth of the
plant by the food which they absorb
1rom the soil, precisely as the leaves
Dolby that taken from the atmosphere
These roots are 40 small ,that they are
rarely, if ever, noticed, and are annu-
ally shed from the su6terranean
branches rs leaves are from the ariel
ones. II anyone wishes to witness
the persistency of one vine in its eff
forts TO obtain food let them dig a
trench two feet deem midway between
the vlHe ana the CARCASS; when the
vine teaches the trench, 6naGng Its
supply cut Oft, it takes in the situation
at d glance, and takes a downward
course antil it reaches the bottom of
the trench then it tunraels under and
comes @p to near the slrface on the
other side and finishes is journey.
A frienl of the writer, a number of
years since planted a weeping willOw
in dry, Savelly bank OH the south
side of his house-a situsaion in every
respect unsaited to this tree, which de-
lights in heavy, moist locslity; the re-
sult was, ssQw, stunted growth, short
brsnches, and an early falling of its To-
hsae in AutGnn, After Few years,
ia which it hSal barely lived, it com.
meaeed mos. vigorous growth, and
in a Few months had made a greater
Development tkz,n in as many years
previous. This rapid growth was as as
tonista2g as pleasing, the cause ofghich
was enseloped liz mystery, until the
following season wien he had an Occa-
sion to repair the pump in his well, on
on the opposite side of the house, more
than sixty feet distant. There to his
surprise, be fovud hix well flied with
the the rootx from the willow, which
had thrown down its underground
branches belox the cellar wall, then
Srept across under the cover of con-
crete floor, then upwards on the north
side of the house until near the sur
face, then proceeding in direct line to
the well some thirty feet more they
again took downward course until
they reached the water that furnished
the moisture which was essential to
the rapid development of the tree.
The movements of the squash vine
when pressed by hunger or thirst are
truly wonderful. During severe
drought, place basin of water at night,
gay two feet from strong vine, and 10
the morning il will be found bathing in
the basin. Is not this an indication of
thought in the vine ? Does it not indi-
cate knowledge In the vine analogous
to the human understanding There
must be some agency employed to
bring the vine to the fountain; either
the plants own volition, or its direct
guidance by the unerring hand Of Pro-
violence. Consider it in either light, and
the facts are no less wonderful, and
they cannot but awaken within you all
that is noble and pure in your nature.
1t will also teach you the garden is not
altogether a creature of your own
hands, however much you may be de-
voted to it's care and arrangement. You
will not say, like the proud Assyrian ;
"By the strength of my hand have |
done it, and by my wisdom" 1t will
also teach you, that He who cares tor
you, cares no less for the flowers. that
both are objects of the same tender,
loving care; both are charters in the
unwritten book of life.-La1ies' Floral
Chbine1.