IRRITABILITY OF PLANTS 145 



the season when the scientific societies are in full 

 session. In a world-tour the carrying of his delicate 

 instruments was difficult enough ; but to take tropical 

 plants in hope of their retaining vigour and sensitiveness 

 in the freezing climates of Europe, and particularly of 

 America, seemed an impossible venture. But Bose, with 

 his characteristic determination and resourcefulness, faced 



FIG. 13. The two plants Mimosa pudica and Desmodium 

 gyrans that accompanied Professor Bose round the world. 

 Ihe small leaflets of the Desmodium (to the right) 

 pulsate up and down. 



the problem. A special glass case was provided for their 

 journey and every possible care taken of them by his 

 admirably devoted and skilled experimental assistant. 

 Only half the number of the plants survived the voyage, 

 but once in London they were safely housed in the Regent's 

 Park tropical greenhouse. This done, Bose fitted up his 

 temporary laboratory at Maida Vale, where the difficulties 

 connected with experiments on tropical plants transferred 

 to a cold climate were observed, and means devised to 

 overcome them. 



He was now asked to lecture before various Universities, 

 and first at Oxford, where his demonstrations were received 



