Law of Proenvironment 227 



senses of higher animals, the gyrotactic, and the electrotactic, 

 which all play more or less on organisms, might be considered 

 to be condensed in the chromatin masses or chromosomes of 

 division figures. Each such chromatin mass of the eight 

 observed in division of some hsemoflagellates, and in some 

 other plants and animals, might be regarded as made up of 

 definite, minute, even ultramicroscopic, constituents which we 

 have already called energids. If an excess number of such 

 energids be distributed during chromatin and cell-division 

 to certain cells, say those of the root, that we would then call 

 geoenergids — some of which energids are distributed in the 

 protoplasm as minute geoplastids, and others connected with 

 these in the nuclear chromatin as nuclear geoenergids — , these 

 latter might start tubes of energy-flow from the nucleus to 

 the peripheral protoplasm in such direction as to cause a greater 

 accumulation of and growth by the protoplasm, later still 

 growth of the wall more on one side than another, if the root 

 has been placed in unsatisfied position. By such energized 

 growth the root would steadily be stimulated to assume a 

 satisfied — that is, a normal — position in relation to gravity. 



A like explanation could well be given for the distribution 

 and action of other types of energy. Furthermore, in con- 

 nection wdth those fairly numerous cases of reversing tropic 

 or tactic response, now well kno^sTi in certain plant parts, such 

 as the aerating roots of some sub-aquatic plants, the shoots 

 of hog peanut (65), of Kenilworth ivy {Linaria Cymbalaria), 

 of Sarracenia, and others, we might consider that here, before 

 reversed stimulation started, either a migration of energids 

 occurred, or that a few formerly present multiplied, and then 

 received and distributed more powerful tubes of energy in 

 definite directions. 



Such actions and reactions, however, we well know are 

 limited mainly to growing plant parts, or to restricted inter- 

 calary growth-areas amongst the higher plants. Now, Tvdth 

 increasing specialization and activity in animal organisms, 

 the gradual evolution of a nuclear and later of a cell factor, 

 that would condense all sense-impressions, link up or correlate 



