DO PLANTS HAVE INSTINCT. 



Instinct has been defined as a sponte- leaf drops off, a substantial layer of cork 



neous impulse, especially in the lower is made to close up the pores through 



animals that moves them, without rea- which the sap had so freely flowed during 



soning, toward actions that are essential the growing season, 



to their existence, preservation and de- My older readers know, of course, that 



velopment. Instinct, imbedded in their the green color of the leaf is due to the 



organic structure, is the guide of animal numerous corpuscles of chlorophyll 



life as reason is the guide of rational life, which fill the cells. This same chloro- 



Instinct is said to be incapable of devel- phyll has an important mission to fulfill, 



opment and progress. These little green bodies are the only real 



It is instinct that guides the wild goose food-making machines in nature. Upon 

 in his long flight to meet the changing the product of these tiny mills all animate 

 requirements of food and nesting. It is nature depends for food. Their motive 

 instinct that enables the carrier pigeon, power is light, and their raw material the 

 though taken hoodwinked and by night inorganic fluids absorbed by the roots 

 to distant points, to wing his way uner- from the soil, and their product is sugars 

 ringly homeward. Instinct leads the and starches. It will be seen that chloro- 

 thrifty squirrel to stock his larder with phyll is one of the most precious, as well 

 nuts in anticipation of the period that as one of the rarest of substances, for 

 must pass ere nuts are ripe again, and while there may appear a great quantity 

 teaches him to destroy the embryo plant it is superficial, never entering deeply 

 by biting out the germ so that his chest- into the substance of the plant, 

 nuts will not sprout and thus be spoiled The trees, by a sort of instinct, shall 

 for food. The same wonderful power en- we say, withdraw their cohorts of green- 

 ables the bee to build her comb upon the liveried workers from the front as au- 

 strictest mathematical principles so as to tumn approaches and deck themselves in 

 obtain the greatest storage capacity and the more gaudy but less wholesome col- 

 strength of structure with smallest con- ors of declining life. It is after the chlo- 

 S'umption of wax, and then to store it with rophyll is withdrawn that the layer of 

 one of the most perfect and concentrated cork is formed. The sturdy oak usually 

 of foods. These and many other well- holds his brown leaves until they are 

 known cases of animal instinct will occur whipped off by the wind, 

 to the reader, but the object of this article The plants have been using light as a 

 is to mention a few phenomena of plant motive power for ages, while man, with 

 life, whereby they make, what we should his much-vaunted reason, is just begin- 

 designate in human beings, an intelligent ning to utilize the kindred force, elec- 

 adjustment to environment or provision tricity, in arts and sciences. Man makes 

 for their future life and development. light draw a few pictures in sombre black 



As autumn approaches, even before and white, while nature flings broadcast 



Jack Frost strikes the first rude signal landscape and life scenes in varied tints 



for winter quarters for insect and plant, and shades. 



or the wintry blasts compel the trees to In the process of photosynthesis much 



furl sail and scud under bare poles, the more energy is received than is necessary 



forest trees begin to prepare for unfavor- to run the machinery, so the plant, with 



able conditions by forming and securely commendable frugality, uses it in laying 



tucking away the bud that is next year to on what botanists call warming-up colors, 



develop into leaf and flower. Before the If you will notice the peach twigs the next 



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