THE FEELINGS OF PLANTS 



102' 



not at all easy to explain. 

 Indeed, Darwin has gone 

 so far as to say that the 

 tip of tlie radicle, in its 

 power of directing the 

 movements of adjoining 

 parts, acts like the brains 

 of some of the lower 

 animals. Much that the 

 growing roots accomplish, 

 however, is the outcome 

 of simple circumstance. 

 We are no longer puzzled, 

 as were the old botanists, 

 by the manner in which 

 roots will seek the damp 

 portions of the soil. The 

 adchtions to growing roots 

 will take place along the 

 line of least resistance ; 

 this will naturally be 

 through the soil which has 

 been loosened by water. 

 In this way the roots 

 will ultimately arrive at 

 the source of the moisture. 



Other problems pre- 

 sented by roots are not 

 nearly so simple, and lead 

 one to the conclusion 

 that these organs may be able to feel 

 at a distance. The roots of trees will 

 not infrequently force their way in 

 between the brickwork of wells some 

 distance above the water level, finally 

 spreading out downwards until their 

 growing points are completely immersed. 

 A little fern, which the writer had in his 

 possession, was most interesting in this 

 connection. The plant was growing in 

 a pot which always stood in a saucer of 

 water. It would seem that the supply 

 of water was not sufficient for the needs 

 of the specimen. On this account the 

 plant actually sent down a root on the 

 outside of the pot to the water in the 

 saucer beneath. It is sometimes noticed 

 that the roots of tropical Aroids, such as 

 the Monsteras, when grown under glass. 

 are very clever in directing the growth of 

 their roots towards water tanks wliich 

 may be beneath them. 



A very singular case of root perception. 



and one which it is interesting to recall, 



is recorded by Carpenter. He tells us 



that in a hollow in the u])per part of an 



130 



LITTLE FERN SENDING DOWN ROOT ON OUTSIDE OK 

 POT TO WATER. 



old oak, the seed of a \\'ild Service Tree 

 was accidentally sown. After the ger- 

 mination of the seed the little plant grew 

 for a while in the decayed vegetable 

 mould collected in the opening. As the 

 young tree increased in size, however, the 

 need for more room made itself felt, and 

 accordingly an attempt was made to 

 reach the ground. The roots were sent 

 down inside the stem of the tree, which 

 was hollow. In the soil to which they 

 directed their growth there was a large 

 stone — about a foot square. If the 

 direction of growth had remained un- 

 changed, the roots would have simply 

 come right down on to the stone. 

 Strangely enough, about half a yard above 

 the stone, the roots di\'ided into two 

 parts ; thus when reaching the ground 

 the soil was penetrated on either sitle of 

 the obstruction. It is not at all an easy 

 matter to offer an explanation of a 

 phenomenon of this nature, which in 

 slightly different form is not an infrequent 

 occurrence in some of our older forests. 

 S. Leon.\kd B.\stin. 



