MENTALITY AND SPIRITUALITY 187 
and treatises have appeared, which claimed that 
their authors had found, beyond all question, the 
proof of an active intelligence in plants. However, 
the mind of the average human is a stolid thing, 
and hates to be jolted from its regular course by 
the entertainment of new and original ideas; so it 
has glanced at these amusing announcements of 
facts and with smiling superiority has returned to 
its old, wormy books and theories, in calm self- 
satisfaction. But the men who have furnished this 
amusement, who have learned really to know plant 
nature, smile in their turn and proclaim the truths, 
which their investigation is giving them. 
Perhaps one of the most convincing evidences of 
mentality in plants is the almost invariable conver- 
sion to this belief of those who have really given 
themselves to study and to a sincere attempt to 
understand the nature of plants. Among the fore- 
most naturalists and psychologists of the past and 
present stand many who are emphatic in the 
declaration of their belief in the theory of plant 
mentality and intelligence. 
It is generally accepted that to animals must be 
given credit for some mentality. ‘The line of de- 
marcation between the animal and plant kingdoms 
has been always a subject for dispute, and never 
has been established to the satisfaction of all. Of 
