The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-02

power oil absorbing only matter In solu.
tion or whether they can render nitro
genors matter soluable which is the
power OF true digestion.
Francis Darwin tried many expert.
ments 60 learn the results of feeding
plants of large variety OF substances.
On June l2, 1877, he fed a number OF
leaves $50 Of grain of roast meat.
At the end Of two months he found the
flowers on the fed plant twice as plenti.
ful as on those ne did not feed and
which were growing side by side. lie
found that there were l65 stalks to 100
on the unfed ones, and the total weight
as $50 pounds is to 100 pounds. Garry.
ing the observation farther. the number
of seed capsules were as 140-100 and the
number Of seeds In each capsule as 1910.
The weight Of the total amount of seeds
was as l57 10 100 and the following
year lS per cent more of the fed plants
came up than the ones that thrived with
out feeding by artificial means.
Darwin fed 81 leaves with non intro
genous solutions, such as gum arabic,
sugar, starch and olive oil, and the ten
tacles were not infected as when the
plant eats. Sixty-four leaves were fed
on milk, isinglass, saliva, etc, and were
infected. Thus il was shown the
pitcher plant is carnivorous and added
supplies of intYogenous material by cap
ture and consumption Of insects and
small animals.
The pitcher plants being experimental
upon were gathered at Luzerne, Warren
county, in marsh where there was
plenty of water and thick foliage pre-
vented the liquid in the cup from being
evaporated. 1t is thought that the ex.
periments will not only verify those tried
by Darwin, but that new and important
features will be discovered In the habits
of the sarracenia.
PERSISTENT rLANr LIFE.
IL is not necessary 20 examine out OF
the way plants in order To tiLd curious
characteristics, they can be noticed in
the city 10y anyone who will devote a
little time TO it.
Take for example the vines that one
sees twining up the sides of almost any
city house where there are grounds about
the residence. They seem prosaic, To
some persons artistic, but 60 the student
they present many odd characteristics.
Does anyone realize that vine can be
as obstinate or persistent rs human
being. That is the case. A sweet pea,
morning glory vine and many Others,
will not be persuaded to twine up cord
or post In any other direction than it
chooses. In every case 1t always en-
circles and mounts piece OF twine
stretched for IL to grow upon, in an op.
posite direction to the hands Of q watch.
Entwinc IL and twist il about the string
the other way and il will untwist itself
and go back again Of its own accord
until IL was as before. Fasten IL twisted
in the direction you wish II to change to
and the chances are IL v i'll die or droop,
because IL cannot have It's own way.
The cause for this inclination cannot
be accounted for by botanists, unless IL
can be called force Of habit or inborn
tendency in the plant. Although tho
sun might be thought to play part In
the strange mannuvrcs, IL Is not so; for
although the plant may extend itself to-
wards the sunlight and then twist about
the string to bc attracted and make an
other revolution, still why IL should make
the first twist from right To- left when
the relative positions OF sun and string
vary In different cases, Is not explainable
by scientists.
Another curious characteristic about
vines In general Is that the little tendrils
ana feclers seem To have the power OF
seeing. II one wishes to test this, put
an upright stick ten inches away from the
sweet pea vine or morning glory and
the tcndril will not reach promiscuously
about in the air, but will stretch out
directly towards the stick, seemingly
recognizing the fact that 1t has found
something TO twine itself upon. 1t is
said that man once sat reading upon an
ivy covered piazza, and when, after n
few hours, he attempted to leave, a shoot
had extended towards him and encircled
his arm.
FOLLOWING THE SUN.
Has anyone ever considered the sun
flower, or why it Is 30 named2 A strange
fact about IL is that IL follows the sun in
it's apparent course In the sky every day.
In the morning the sun1owcr is attracted
towards the east when the first rays are
to be seen. From that hour IL turns
slowly on the stalk until the sun goes
down in the west and then IL droops its
head ms IL cannot turn further In it's de-
sire TO always look upon the sun.
There about 10, 900 varieties of sun
flowers. Ii is n composite flower In itself,
ms il is made up of hundreds OF perfect
little flowers, and one does not look upon
one when the great golden orb Is gazed
at, but upon number Of flowers. In
Russia they make a valuable oil by
crushing the seeds, but in this country
they serve as good food for poultry.
sEssIrryESEss or PLANTS
Another common plant which seems
20 possess human instincts Is the mimosa
or sensitive plant.
II touched ever so lightly with a straw,
the leaf which IL touched will close itself
suddenly and remain this way until 1t
imogines the danger is over, and then it
will slowly open again. Even the wind
will he sufficient TO cayse IL TO close it's
| A a.. "a Al.