Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-29
EVEN PLANTS MADE
W0BBLY BY SPIRITS
Grow Booty From Alcohol, Act
ing as If Overcome by
Intoxication.
AS SENSITIVE AS ANIMALS
Experiments Show Effect of
Chloroform Upon Carrots
Electrical Responses.
AS SENSITIVE AS ANIMALS
fBy Uniyersal Service. ]

tBy Universal Servce.l
LONDON. Feb 2S.-A great deal OF
curiosity has been aroused by the dis
deye5lss In 1l'nt lie Wneh nave ngen
Bose. director OF TIA. Bose Research In
stitute in Calcutta.
Two years ago this institute was
dedicated 10 the nation, IFS main pur-
pose being to continue the researches
OF Its founder and TO carry on. wt;h
large conceptions OF the InvcslIgation
OF the processes Of life;
In the purSui; or these invcstlga-
tons he has found Inorganic matter
anything but inert. y universal re-
action seemed to bring together metal.
plant and animal under a common law.
All exhibited essentially the sam. ine-
nomena OF fatigue and depression, to-
gether with possibilities OF recovery
and e1altatlon. and also OF that per-
manent irrcsponsivencss which is as
ISOLATED with death.
In natural sequence to the invcsti.a-
ter has followed a prolonged study OF
She activities OF plant life. and "a com
ttoning of animal life. But since plants
Tor the most part seem motionieSs and
Ge1ieacs hsG apparatus b nHsn o. extreme
would magnify the tremor OF exclta-
ton and also measure the perception
peraoa or plant TO Il thousandth part
Plants Give "AutoEr.pt.."
Ut horoscope movements were
measured and recorded. the length
measure often being smaller than Il
i,ir gSt rS OF a single wave length OF
thus for the first time revealed b. the
autographs OF the plan, itself.
Sir me inaIes,igations have convinced
are iuily alive TO changes OF environ
!nSht, ana that the respond visibly TO
tons OF iie sTen 10 me s!sn, nuc!ua-
cloud. BY the instrument. the cresco.
iE ;s pa .,a IN. ne; sfowth OF the plants and
are instantly recorded
II Is expected that this method O.
i na.,sI!E; will advance practical
Is possible TO nnalyze and study sepa-
Iateiy the conditions which modify the
ihe, past would have taken month"; MONTH III
and their results vitiated by unknown
cchanses-can now be carried on in Il
Determine. Perception Range.
,o2Sn e tine ago Sir JaSadis made a
plants to light. Whether visible or in.
xiiiz hp hlcS NE i.s susSelyes can perceive
the wave length OF which VARIES from
ohe.Lorty, thousandth TO ono eighty
lnousandth part of an inch. Above Or
10 detect light
o, ~ was found that plants respond not
At ono end OF the spectrum bur aiso
TO the entire range OF the VAST eth.aaaT
spectrum. and even TO wireless mes
special apparatus records the pian,:s
perception OF the wireless sigma also
definite script a
dhe5e are three ways in which plants
bhe eIo signals through space. the FIRST
oy the twitch OF leaflets OF sensitive
pants, such as the mimosa. and The
third by the sudden acceieration or re
p
Even the coInmonest vegetaljes :;
mas been found. are as sensitive as
Experiments have shown tho ,nec.
or chioroform upon the electrical re-
epons ann, G1 carrot. The anaesthetic
responses and then the pulsatioas
gradually disappeared
Chloroform and cold benumb plants.
me 0h1 wb ma tx s- them as as unsteady as a
and electric currents excite them. In
sunshine they are exhilarated: in rain
depressed. and poisons and violence
In, word. Sir JaEadis has shown
oy mis- experiments that plants are
same conditions as a human being
sometimes to greater and sometimes
to lesser degree. His Ingenious re-
ness. with Wien u iiie acre or cabba cages
may write down their Impressions OF
n the outer world In script we can
telligentiy and vegetation, hitherto
mute, will whisper its story.
Records Death Spnsms.
~, The en- most =, fascinating and perhaps
.!agadis performs. are those on the
death of plants.
To the registering lever OF his in
strumcnt he attaches plant. and then
places II in a vessel of water. which is
e esaesssy heated ted As the temperaturs
line shoots up abruptly. 1t is the
death spasm-the last response OF
winch the plant is capable.
sir Jagadis mas experimental with
plants. All witch and die in the same
temperature. In the transactions Of
tne Bose Institute il is stated that we
now understand what the curious
movements OF leaves and flowers mean
When they are scorched and scalded
1t Is not simply the mechanical curling
and twisting that heat produces in all
death throe.
PnIinE II Death BInnch.
Tho sudden paling OF the passion
flower may now be interpreted. it is
said, as the end OF life, and the quick
gold in hot water is the writing of
death. A new meaning is impartcd to
tho yariegated hueS of flowers growing
on the same stem; for the stripes that
sons, the colored spots that grow larger
and larger on leaves and flowers and
that are so highly priced by breeders
Of plants prove when tested to be
dying areas.
What has been admired in many n
curiously tinted leaf is but a cadaver-
Gus beauty All the wonderful and mys-
FERROUS purple and red glow OF autumn
Is but the hectic flush OF death.
MAD DANCES uaAuoII,no