No. 5] Vine (Vitacece). 



19 



■soon recoiled from these objects with what I can only call 

 disgust, and straightened themselves," They were dis- 

 satisfied with the smooth surfaces ; when rough ones were 

 substituted they at once seized upon them and held fast. 



In animals the will and the nerve-centres are responsi- 

 ble for the action of the muscles. What is responsible in 

 the plant for the action of the tendrils? Why does the 

 tendril reach straight out, seemingly as eager as a finger to 

 reach the needed support ? The support is reached. Is 

 the tendril satisfied ? No more than is a baby when its 

 fingers touch the rounds of the supporting chair. The 

 chubby fingers close. The muscles of the hand and arm 

 contract and stiffen, and so the child holds and stands 

 where else it would have fallen. Why does the tendril 

 when it feels the support likewise stiffen and cling with all 

 its might ? 



More ! Why does it at the same time throw its entire 

 straight length into a spiral ? True in that form it can 

 better withstand a sudden strain — as can the twisted cable 

 that holds a ship to its anchorage, — but the vine is not 

 supposed to know that. Then why does it act ? 



Besides, there is a mechanical difficulty. Take a fine 

 wire. Fasten it firmly at each end. Now try to throw it 

 into a single even spiral. You cannot do it. Neither 

 can a plant do so with its tendrils. But the plant solves 

 the difficulty. It makes a double spiral — i. e., near the 

 middle the direction of the curve is evenly and gracefully 

 reversed, and with no sacrifice whatever of strength or of 

 beauty, Ah, how often the "wise" men have to answer 

 their own or others' persistent "Why?" simply with 

 *' I do not know." One can explain in part, but back of 

 it all is something that cannot be explained. 



[See further concerning tendrils, under Gourd Family, pp. 80, 81.] 



