New-York tribune., 1907-01-13
MAN-MADE PLANTS.
Extraordinary Productions of a
French Scientist.

DR.. Stephane Leduc, the distinguished physi
elan of the medical school of Nantes, has been
much talked of in the last few weeks on ac-
count of the wonderful chemical formations
Which r. has achieved in close imitation of
vegetable tissues, says "The Illustrated London
News
IN such cases many misconceptions usually
get abroad and in order to ascertain what
actly DR.. Leduc has achieved our representative
In France had an interview with him. in which
he gave the following account of his expert
nnents. He first goes to work to make seed
"You take" he said, two parts Of saccharose
sugar. of suphate Of copper, grind these
b powder and mix them. From the mixture
you take up much will form granule-
II is just a mere pinch. and you moisten it
With water. For the rest one makes ready
culture solution composed of water to which
u added ferrocyanide of potassium, 2 to per
cent: chloride of sodium. 1 to 10 per cent. and
Eelatfne. to 4 per cent. Pour little of
this solution into a test tube a little crys-
tallizer and then throw in the seed In very
few minutes Gas has lately been proved by
demonstration with the magic lantern showing
the process in action) one sees the seed begin
b swell though it were a natural product
Next 1t sprouts. with the point directed up
ward. and then it lengthens out into one stalk
or several stalks to the number of fifteen or
twenty. In a few hours these stalks have
reached length of from twenty-five to thirty
centimetres. supposing that the test tube is so
long. Viewed from a distance. this artificial
growth resembles an aquatic plant. 1t shows
the tointed stem. and there developments
which might be regarded as leaves and fruit.
When the growth arrives at the surface Of the
liquid 1t still further follows the habits OF
aquatic plants, for it spreads itself out and
produces the appearance Of floating leaves
Other varieties resemble standing crops
when. on the other hand, the culture is not
made IN a narrow test tube. but in a wide bowl.
The appearances quite different There 1t
takes the form of seaweed. and sometimes of
mushroom. Nothing could be more varied; moth
ing could, to all appearance. recall more nearly
tse forms of life For all that" continued DR..
Leduc, there is life at all. There is no trace
sf living matter-of protoplasm and its COM
ple1fty of albuminoids The manifestation Is
Of chemical products and of chemical products
alone. but when these are brought together they
form combinations In virtue of physical and
chemical laws There is a formation Of a sort
Z membrane of ferrocynanide of copper imper
neable to the sugar which is within. but per
neable to the water Of the solution. The sugar
- drawn out into long filaments or long stalks.
~ the action Of the water. and as for the
Vroadins formations on the surface. these are
merely due to the fact that the membrane can
assume no other form when once It has ceased
e be borne upward by the solution
That Is to say. the matter rises as long as
can: thereafter it must spread itself out on
ehe surface This. however Is not life: but
tAae is appearance OF nutrition and OF
growth as the artificial plant lengthens itself
cut The artificial plant is. like the true plant.
Denaible to the actions of poison and tempera-
kure has q considerable influence It's growth |
k1,nse plants. however. although not alive. are
subject to death In about forty eight hours
hey aged. Growth ceases and they crumble |
avay" With other formula Nj. Leduc has OBJ
batned liquid cellules in liquid medium. which
prenent the phenomena OF segmentation- Of di-
s1s3on into still smaller ceules within the prirn-
Rive CELL as in the of egg during In
Dahation- Still. he contends. there Is no real
|sfn The experiments. however. are OF great In
knrcst to science, as they show the correlation
bsfveen the forms Of plants and their physical
Environment