SOME REMARKABLE WAYS OF PLANTS 167 



Often seeds and pollen-grains are wafted thither, for 

 the same purpose. 



If a dragon-fly happens to be captured, that is a 

 grand haul. One or two more leaves will then come 

 bending over to help the captor, for extra strength is 

 needed to hold such a vigorous captive, and more juices 

 for his complete subjection than a single leaf can supply. 



Yet another Insect-eating plant is the " Venus' Fly- 

 trap," a native of North America. Here again the leaves 

 are the traps. Sharp spines grow on them, and when 

 an unfortunate insect alights there, it is caught at once 

 by the sticky outflow. Then it is closed in upon, slowly, 

 pitilessly, the sharp spines crossing till its imprisonment 

 is complete. Sometimes the leaf will remain tightly 

 shut for a week, a fortnight, or even three weeks. 



And these are only a few of the extraordinary " Flesh- 

 devouring Plants " now known to botanists. 



Ill — The Health of Plants 



We often speak of plants as being healthy or unhealthy, 

 just as we speak of human beings ; and it is the simple 

 truth that they, like ourselves, may be either well or 

 ill, either feeble or vigorous. They suffer from illnesses 

 and diseases, much as we do, and often from the same 

 causes. 



It may be bad air which upsets them, or want of good 

 water to drink, or insufficient food in the soil, or not 

 enough sunshine, or too much heat or too much cold. 

 One kind needs what another cannot stand. So with us 

 — " one man's meat is another man's poison." 



Mention has been made earlier of growths which do 

 not root in the ground, but drain their nourishment 



