NOTES ON THE NEPENTHACE.E, OR PITCHER-PLANTS. 305 



to be very effective, while entailing no labour and 

 beincr an additional ornament to the structures 

 devoted to plant-culture. 



While flies, ants, and beetles are devoured, the 

 pitcher-plants seem to have no relish for beef. Any 

 experiments I have tried in this direction have 

 resulted in the destruction of the pitcher in a very 

 short time, the bloody matter penetrating the pitcher 

 and blackening it in a day or two. Fresh beef, 

 while destroying the pitcher, is not left unacted 

 upon, for the digestive power of the fluid is shown 

 in a very marked and interesting manner. The beef, 

 after a few days' immersion, becomes very rapidly 

 putrid, and when taken out is found to be all honey- 

 combed and as bloodless as though it had been boiled. 



Dr. Hooker found by experiment that when the 

 secretion was taken out of the pitcher it lost its 

 digestive powers, thus proving that only when in 

 direct contact with the secretive glands could the 

 fluid perform its functions. 



That the plant is benefited by this power of ab- 

 sorption is obvious, as the accumulation of insects 

 in the pitcher would otherwise very soon destroy it. 

 It cannot be said that the growth of the plant 

 generally is improved, or that the rjitchers are 

 enlarged, by its insect food ; but their preservation is 

 secured, thus adding greatly to the beauty and 

 interest of the genus. I have observed that the 

 decay of the pitcher facilitates the destruction of 

 the portion of the leaf nearest the stem. Regarding 

 the duration of those leaves that are pitch ered, as 

 contrasted with those in which the pitchers are 

 undeveloped, there does not appear to be much 

 difference, although the chances of life are largely 

 in favour of the undeveloped ones. 



The varied forms assumed by the pitchers on the 

 same plant at different periods of growth are due 

 in some instances to cultivation of a particular kind. 

 If the plants are dwarfed by pruning, they produce 

 pitchers that are winged; and these wings, besides 



