THE " INTELLIGENCE " OF PLANTS 85 



Dorr estication and Cultivation, in so far as they cut off the 

 organism from its natural symbiotic bonds very generally induce 

 a " misere physiologique." It is not surprising to find that the 

 respective symptoms are often attended by those of a " misere 

 psychologique." This is how Maeterlinck puts it : "On dirait 

 que la plante cultivee perd un peu la tete si Ton peut s'exprimer 

 ainsi, et qu'elle no sait plus au juste ou elle en est." 



The explanation of a loss of " symbiotic sense," however, will 

 be found to be more scientific and more exact. 



An example from animal life, showing a psychological 

 misere arising from illegitimate biological relations, is presented 

 by the case of the hermit crab, infected by the parasite 

 Sacculina. It was shown by the late lamented Geoffrey Smith 

 that in crabs of both sexes so infected the cyclical changes of 

 reproduction and of growth occurring normally in animals do 

 not take place. Such crabs neither grow, moult nor reproduce. 

 There is sterility and apparently loss of proportion generally 

 caused by the predominance of a parasitic relation. The 

 psychological " yield " here obtained is one the opposite of that 

 obtained under a symbiotic relation. And it is the same with 

 over-exploited plants. 



My repeated emphasis of " symbiotic disposition " and 

 " symbiotic sense " might well have caused the reader to reflect 

 on the evidence of the alleged endowment of organisms. I 

 maintain that there is abundant evidence showing the existence 

 cf such a sense. The various " instincts " : of association, of 

 reciprocity, of self-sacrifice, of parental care of offspring, of 

 solidarity and of altruism, all, I claim, are to be classed under 

 this heading. 



It is customary to speak of the primordial distinction between 

 plant and animal as due to the " choice " made by the plant in 

 favour of an energy-storing life whilst the animal is represented 

 as having " preferred " the life of mobility. One might think 

 that mutuality had played no part in this alleged " separation," 

 which is yet no separation, but only a more extended union a 

 more extended Symbiosis, which has led to all that is great and 

 desirable in our lives. I see in the retention of the vital con- 

 nection between the kingdoms, above all, evidence of the symbiotic 

 sense, the natural development of which favoured the widest 

 forms of reciprocity and of division of labour as betweer plant 

 and animal. And how otherwise than actuated by the symbiotic 



