New-York tribune., 1899-03-24

An interesting child's story told by Minnie Nc
Kean, OF London, is given below
A DAY WITH THE sUNDEWs
vasculums and spud in hand. made for the
moor a paradise for the sundews. paradise Tor
heather and the cotton sedge, grass Of Parnassus'
butterwort and the delicate little bog pimpernel'
All Of these were in perfection, and the music that
sang their lullaby was the wild note OF the curlew
and the divine song OF the lark above the fields
close by.
What we discovered let me tell you in few
words: 1t was the sundew family we were after
and their and scarlet rose'tes OF leaves were
plainly visible lying on the verdant moss IN each %
one the nower-stalk rose from the centre, an men
or two in height bearing is crown OF white Dlos,
had 10 do. but the leaves. which spread out on
deadly traps for every unwary insect that hutteed
near .,, -. ~. Ao.,,
,,fuI plants as we meant 10 grow them at home
and make experiments the feeding or them. as
Darwin did, till he discovered that MS sunde"s'
fed on tiny shreds OF raw meat. throve as well as.
If not better than. their brethren OF the moor; noe
The sundews, Ike most insect-eatng plants, pos
sess weakly developed roots. therefore. to make
up for the scant supply OF nltrogenous 1000 tney
ct,;oI weapons Of destruction that they may
Keep themselves from starvation and catch food
what is found on the leaf then. that can ex-
pan sSc sue use Of the microscope IT is found that
every leaf is thicky covered with hairs-say two two
nun in an an oysshaped glandular knob These
Latrs ore scientifically called tentacles and certain
iv they are deadly in their embrace as the eh'a
cles OF the sea-anemone. -, =. 49,, ..,.,
The next thing is quite discernible by tho naked
a " and that is that both tentacles and knobs are
Continually bathed in viscid MUD Ihls secureo
,ba nrotty name OF sundew for the plant, as IL
sno o-ties IN the sunshine Ike dew. Each gandular
sr,nh is confused OF two cells. filled with purple
dr, nudp md erect while toward the margin they are
much longer and lie OUT IKE ifi"so al i'
the outside OF the leaf. ~, ..., l., 49, o.-.ro
IL an Insect allghts on the tentaces IN tne centre
., the leaf all the surrounding ones pegln inme-
81 ~, 20 move and infect themselves over H. the
ones nearest the centre beginning nrs'' anu 30 on
on ,,n margin I'LL every one Is busy Inc insec.
uoenvbiIe 70 IN Is fairly caught by the Viscd iud ana
i r,rges TO escape only help 10 inVoVe IL more
Us ~, 10 excite the infection OF the tenacles
p IN smother II, the insect must come lnlo
oontact not only with the huid' but win 'he saiiu-
unh So' accomplished then. by the insect absorb
,a The euid round It's body, ana then iarhg ONO ONE
ihs h eIands which all unite IN killing H. Inc sun
Hno, h0 ebnlongs 10 the class OF hsecl-eau"s P"''
that digest their prey'., q living CREATURE these
1s s sbe riIid I'm the glands immedlatey oscoInes ONES
Ioi acd and their two cells now, nsteau OF pelns
pnrelv Allied with purple nuid arc sen W , IN
ain masses Of purple matter Ha"si''s 4" ~
less huie the true digestive agent. and Ensembles
InIs nas,r,c tuices o, the higher animals. Inc oval
the eas'a Las nour II out copiously on the dead
lhESsS oems wonderful story OF such ioFeiy anu
looking little plant as ,ne 80 ii I;ytng
nnocnrld Of nature the food supply OF an nving
M ie the greatest factor IN me- 30 slo p'tty
,aI sundew lives by continually spreading out MS
nets and traps. ...s a.