124 



THE CLOYER CROP. 



which time this latter has been enlarging in size, which 

 increases the compression of the coils round its stem, thus 

 causing the bark or skin of the plant to become more deli- 

 cate, while the parasite is preparing a series of aerial roots 

 to penetrate it. Having done this its new position is estab- 

 lished firmly, its own natural root dies away, and thence- 

 forth its true parasitic growth goes on without a check 

 until the juices of its victim are completely exhausted, by 

 which time it has itself probably arrived at maturity, 



flowered and perfected its seeds, as is seen in the wood- 

 cut, which are generally left to fall to the ground, and 

 thus be ready to resume their growth and attacks upon 

 the crop of the following season. 



The appearance of the plant itself, and of the effects 

 produced by it, are sufficiently remarkable to\ pre- 

 vent their being passed over unnoticed by even the 



