30 DB. F. DAEWIN ON THE 



Thus the fed plants had in 24 days produced 20 new flower- 

 stems, while the number of the starved ones was only increased 

 by 1. This fact tallies with the results of Tables III. and IV., 

 which show that the fed plants continue to flower longer— about 

 one fifth of the fed stems having flowers, while one sixth only of 

 the starved ones were in the same state. 



It will be seen in Table VI. that on comparing the plants from 

 which the flower-stems had been gathered, no very striking dif- 

 ference is found to exist between the fed and the starved plants ; 

 while in all that relates to reproduction of the species the differ- 

 ence is most striking, especially when the corresponding weights 

 are compared. Thus, taking the weights of the plants without 

 flower-stems, we find the proportion between starved and fed to 

 be 100 : 121*5, whereas the weights of the total amounts of seed 

 produced are in the ratio 100 : 379*7. 



It would seem from these results that the great advantage ac- 

 cruing to carnivorous plants from a supply of nitrogenous food to 

 the leaves is the power of producing a vastly superior yield of 

 seeds. This will no doubt partly explain the fact which has been 

 a stumbling-block to many, that insectivorous plants seem to 

 thrive without animal food ; although, as I have shown, the fed 

 plants are in reality markedly superior in general appearance, 

 venture to think that the above experiments prove beyond ques- 

 tion that the supply of meat to Drosera is of signal advantage to 

 the plants. There can be no doubt that both Drosera and other 

 insectivorous plants profit in an analogous manner from the cap- 

 ture of insects in a state of nature. 



In conclusion, I may mention that there are three plates of 

 Drosera of which the flower- stalks only were gathered, and which 

 are allowed to rest during the winter. It will be very interesting 

 to observe the relative numbers and size of the plants which spring 

 up on the fed and starved sides of the partitions. As the plants 

 are now being forced in the hothouse, I shall probably be able to 

 add an Appendix to the present paper stating their results. 



I 



Appendix*. April 5th, 1878. 



As above stated, three plates were (after the removal of the 

 flower-stalks) allowed to rest during the winter in order to test 

 the relative amounts of reserve material laid up by the starved 



* See also an additional memorandum postca. 



