13 



Among other novelties, we are now told by Mr. Beeves, a botanical 

 revolutionist, that s^p in a tree does not rise from the roots, but 

 is derived from the moisture in the atmosphere, which the leaves 

 imbibe and elaborate into sap. The only nutriment, he asserts, 

 that ascends from the roots of the tree, are the gases which it 

 inhales from the interstices of the surroundmg earth. Mr. Reeves 

 bases his theiay on the law of gravitation, which compels fluid to 

 descend, and allows gases to ascend, but he omits from his 

 calculations the physical laws of osmosis and capillory attraction, 

 by both of which tJjere is little doubt (if we may rely upon the 

 testimony of our most eminent botanists and chemists) that the 

 life of a tree or plant is maintained. The leaves ot a plant doubtless 

 sLbsorb water to a certain extent, but if the foliage of a plant be 

 watered and the roots left dry, it will soon whither and die, 

 whereas if the roots be kept well supplied with moisture, the 

 plant will live even though the leaves be unwatered ; this fact 

 certainly tends to disprove the truth of the new theory. 



Much interest was excited in the minds of many botanists some 

 months ago, by the assertion of Herr Nowach, of Vienna, that he 

 had discovered the " weather plant," which is none other than the 

 well known tropical abrus precatorius. By the special request of 

 H.R.H, the Prince of Wales, Nor- Nowach came over to this 

 country and in connection with Professor Oliver and Mr. Weiss 

 made many elaborate experiments at Kew Gardens with this 

 interesting plant. That it is highly sensitive to light, Professor 

 Oliver admits, but he is convinced that its claims to being a 

 weatlier prophet must be abandoned ; for in spite of numerous 

 changes in the weather during its time of probation, not one did 

 the plant fortell ; nor wns it any more reliable in fortellmg the 

 advent of earthquakes, or fire-damp in mines, of which Herr 

 Nowach claimed to come within the range of the plant's prophetic 

 capacity. 



A remarkable instance of the effect of electric light on vegetation 

 was shown last spring in Leipz;igerplatz, Berlin, where the 

 branches of the lime trees facing the light were clotted with 

 verdure, while on those turned from it the buds were not fully 

 formed. We hear from America of a plant, the coraaria thymifolia 

 whose juice supplies a ready made ink of a reddish brown colour, 

 but which turns black after use ; this useful shrub b'as been aptly 

 toimed the " ink-plant." We are also told that in France, an ink 

 liiis been made, wnich is guaranteed to fade utterly from the paper 

 in eight days. What a boon this will prove to the ardent lover 

 who need no longer fear to give free vent to his most passionate 

 protestations when addressing his mistress, knowing that, should 

 time somewhat abate the ardour of his feeling, an action lor 



