Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06
ROOTS SEARCH FOR FOOD
Experiment to Prove That Growing
Shrubs Scent Nutriment.
SENSATIONS LIKE ANIMALS
Boundaries Between the Mineral,
Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms
Not Always Clear.
II. l.. Garner. in the Housekeeper.

regarded tho world as divided into three
great kingdoms. separated by such clear
lines that any one might distinguish them
at a glance: but modern research mas
shown that the boundaries of those KING
doms are not so sharply defined as they
appear to be. In many places along their
frontiers they overlap and merge INTO one
another by imperceptible degrees. min
Cling and blending their subjects like
those of the brakish waters of an es-
tuary where river joins the sea. Among
them are many joint products which
neither of the neighboring kingdoms alone
can claim.
Hitherto it has been the orthodox belief
of mankind that all plant life forms were
devoid of the organs, faculties and SEN
sations possessed or experienced by ami
mails The unanimity of that belief. now
ever does not prove the truth or IL OF
modify the fundamental facts of the case
any more than the once universal oeliel
that the earth was fat affected the
sphericity of 1t.
There are many reasons to oeheVe tha'
some plants are capable OF sensations
very similar to, if not Identical with. those
of animals There is not much doubt
that certain species of plants have or
gans of touch taste and smell when
serve like purposes in this sphere OF life
as the corresponding sensations In AMI
NAL economy: and II they do not &C
tualIy hear and see, as animals do, they
seem to have faculties equivalent 40,
those.
Approaching the subject closely. atten-
ton is called to specific instances IN
which the presence and activity of GER
tain faculties involving the sensations are
quite apparent; and granting that all
minds may not Interpret the facts in the
same manner. all minds will probably
concur in their being facts. as palpable as
thev are curious. No doubt, those who
make a special study of plants may be
able to cite better examples of the exer-
else of the faculties IN question than
those al my command. which. it is admit
ted are only isolated cases that have
come to my notice without being sought
or followed up with elaborate expert
ments to prove or disprove any theory.
AS recreation from my special line or
study / devote most of my time to the
care of a small area of garden in which
I cultivate limited variety of domeSt-
Gated plants and incidentally transplant
and cultivate a few rare specimens OF
wild plants that l find growing in the
surrounding forest. 1t is in this line that
my attention has been drawn to the few
facts which / have tabulated upon the
subject.
Development of Attributes.
One Of the most conspicuous and at the
same time one of the most mysterious OF
all the faculties Of either plants or ami
mails Is that by means of which an In
dividual is enabled to develop new phys
ical attributes adapted to definite pur-
poses arising from new conditions under
which 1t may be placed: but to compre-
bend the initial means or process by
which an individual of any kind acquires
a totally new organ or member. is
more elusive problem. This faculty ap-
H. otf md 9th
cient in the lower than in he higher
horizons of life In both kingdoms, and
more so in a wild state than under cul7
ture In other words, 1t appears that the
form become. the less capable it is of
modifying its own type by its own ex-
ertions.
In different species of plants the Or
gans of sensation vary in the degree of
their activity; but the sense of smell Is
perhaps the most acute of any in the
greatest number; and vines appear to be
endowed with stronger seEsib.lities than
other plants. This fact is possibly due
10 their ability to change the direction
of their parts with less effort than plants
of more rigid models.
L transplanted a young vine of rather
delicate proportions to a small box fined
with a fairly rich loan soil and erected
a support for it to climb. 1t soon began
twining its stem and tendrls about the
support. and appeared thrifty and con-
tent with its environments.
Shortly after this vine was settled in it's
new home, another box waS placed with
in few inches of the one containing 1t.
The latter box was filled with rich COM
post in which some tomato seeds were
planted for the purpose Of propagation.
Within few days the young plants be-
gan to show themselves above ground,
and in the meantime four email spurs
developed on the stem of the vine q few
inches above the ground line, and all on
hn eli Ia fnv pn ~,
day to day both boxes were supplied with
water and relieved of the stray weeds
that were sharing the nourishment in
them. The spurs upon the vine contin-
be neither tendrils nor ordinary branch
es. The ends were blunt and there was
no sign of leaves or buds. Their tenden-
cy to curve downward and their ends
constantly pointing toward the compost
box soon made 1t evident that they were
roots and that they were aiming to reach
the compost In due time the tomato
plants were removed to the rarden and
the box of compost left in order to see
what the result would be. / was not
kept III suspense very long for within
another week all four roots had buried
their loose ends in the compost. 1 con-
tlnued to supply both boxes with water
ana IN a very short time the four new
roots were greater In diameter than the
original stem below the point where the
lowest of them Joined IT,
Liked the Compost.
The main stem divided into several
branches and both continued to scramble
up the support. which was promptly sup
piemented by new arms for them Rather
suddenly profusion OF small creamy
Movers put out and soon developed into
little berries. which prematurely ripened
and the vine began to decline On exam
'nlng the contents OF the boxes the COM
post mad become mass or long fibrous