160 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



II — Sensitive and Meat-eating Plants 



That all Vegetable Growths are more or less sensitive 

 is pretty clear. They are sensitive to sunshine, to heat 

 and cold, to moisture, to changes of climate and weather. 

 We know how quickly they open their flowers to greet 

 the sun, and how soon they droop from lack of water or 

 of light and warmth. 



By this word " sensitive " is meant generally the power 

 to receive and to respond to impressions. It means with 

 ourselves the power to receive light- waves, sound-waves, 

 and any manner of touch ; and to respond by the sensa- 

 tions of sight, of hearing, of feeling. Such sensations 

 are often outwardly expressed by speech or movement ; 

 and a plant can respond by movement, though not by 

 speech. These movements show us, not that the plant 

 can actually see or hear or feel, but that it is in some 

 way affected, that it is touched — disturbed or checked or 

 helped — by outside influences. 



A dog is standing in the road, and a motor-car spins 

 suddenly round the corner. Instantly the dog jumps 

 aside. That is his response to what suggests to him 

 danger. The dog has brains and can think. He knows 

 why he has hurried away. 



A plant responds, but does not think, does not know 

 why, which makes a very great difference. Still, the 

 fact remains that it does respond. It is not like a rock 

 or a stone. In its degree, it is sensitive to outer influ- 

 ences, to what goes on outside it and apart from itself. 



And as some human beings are more sensitive, more 

 easily stirred or startled, than others, so some vegetable 

 growths are more quickly affected than others. A 



