30 Instinct of Plants. [January, 



in weight was one-half, ash and walnut two-fifths, and pine one-third. 

 The woods underwent a change of color as the heat was rising from 395 

 degrees to 428 ; the walnut became very dark, showing a kind of tar, 

 formed in the wood by the process, which was found to have a preserving 

 effect on the wood. 



It was found that wood thus treated became stronger — having an 

 increase in the power of resisting fracture. The maximum heat for 

 producing the best fracture resisting power for elm was between 302 

 and 347 degrees, and between 257 and 302 for the oak, walnut, and 

 pine. The oak was increased in strength five-ninths, walnut one-half, 

 two-fifths for pine, and more than one-fifth for elm. These are but pre- 

 liminary experiments which may lead to very important results, and 

 are therefore interesting to architects especially. By this process the 

 fibres of the wood are drawn closer together, and maple and pine treated 

 in the steam at a temperature of 472. were rendered far more valuable 

 for musical instruments than by any other process heretofore known. 

 This is valuable information to all musical instrument makers : — who 

 knows but this is a discovery of the Venetian fiddle-maker's great 

 secret ! 



4 ♦ • • > 



INSTINCT OF PLANTS. 



HoARE, in his " Treatise on the Vine," gives a striking exemplification 

 of the instinct of plants. A bone was placed in the strong but dry 

 clay of a vine border. The vine sent out a leading or tap root, directly 

 through the clay to the bone. In its passage through the clay, the 

 main root threw out no fibres, but when it reached the bone it entirely 

 covered it, by degrees, with the most delicate and minute fibres, like 

 lace, each one sucking at a pore in the bone, like a litter of pigs tugging 

 at their dam as she lies down on the sunny side of the farm yard. On 

 this luscious morsel of a marrow bone would the vine continue to feed, 

 as long as any nutriment remained to be extracted. What wonderful 

 analogies there are running through the various forms of animal and 

 vegetable creation, to stimulate curiosity, to gratify research, and finally, 

 lead our contemplations from nature, in a feeling of reverence, up to 

 nature's G-od ! 



