MENTALITY AND SPIRITUALITY 189 



every vibration for sound is but the effect of vi- 

 brations. 



The examples of a plant's sense of touch and of 

 feeling are numerous. The action of the tentacles 

 of the sundew, on being touched by a foreign sub- 

 stance, is evidence of this ability to feel. Plant 

 consciousness of heat and cold frequently has been 

 proved by approaching a flower with a hot iron; 

 there may be no change in the light, but with the 

 change of temperature, the flower closes, as if to 

 protect its precious children from harm. 



That plants have a sense of smell also has been 

 proved. An odour which is offensive to a plant will 

 cause it to close; and if endured long it may kill 

 the plant. The wonderful power of plants to de- 

 tect approaching rain, or the nearness of Avater, 

 may fairly be attributed to the sense of smell; al- 

 though this power might quite as fairly be attrib- 

 uted to a sixth sense of the plant. 



The taste of plants has been proved beyond ques- 

 tion; it is known that the taste of some plants for 

 salt, others for sugar, iron, zinc, is very marked. 

 There can be little question that the prevalence or 

 scarcity of a favourite food has much to do with 

 a plant's habitat. 



The sixth sense which plants undoubtedly pos- 

 sess may be called the psychic sense. There are 



