CLIMBING PLANTS. 115 



X. 



CLIMBING PLANTS. 



CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER, in " My Summer in 

 a Garden/' gives the following description of the 

 growth of a vine : " I, however, believe in the in- 

 tellectual, if not the moral, qualities of vegetables, 

 and especially weeds. There was a worthless vine 

 that (or who) started up about midway between a 

 grape-trellis and a row of bean-poles, some three 

 feet from each, but a little nearer the trellis. 

 When it came out of the ground, it looked around 

 to see what it should do. The trellis was already 

 occupied ; the bean-pole was empty. There was 

 evidently a little the best chance of light, air, 

 and sole proprietorship on the pole ; and the vine 

 started for the pole, and began to climb it with de- 

 termination. Here was as distinct an act of choice, 

 of reason, as a boy exercises when he goes into a 

 forest, and, looking about, decides which tree he 

 will climb. And, besides, how did the vine know 

 enough to travel in exactly the right direction, three 

 feet, to find what it wanted ? This is intellect." 



