43 



aspect of the date tree does not appear to have struck the people 

 of the Central Provinces, Central India and the Deecan generally, 

 where the tree is found growing in groves of thousands. Re- 

 cently a joint stock company, called the Khandwa Sugar Manu- 

 facturing Company, has been launched to work this profit-yield- 

 ing tree, and started work at Nimar three years ago. So far the 

 results give promise of a bright future. 



Compass-Plants. — A distinguished scientist explains that 

 the prickly lettuce (Lactuca scariola) is a compass-plant by reason 

 of "phytolytic movements of chloroplasts in exposed cells, para- 

 phototropic reactions, and photeotic, or nyctitropic movements of 

 leaves/ 5 If any other scientist can box this vegetable compass 

 more concisely, it is his turn to speak. 



Moonseed Poisonous. — American Gardening reports the 

 death of three boys at Sharpsville, Pa., from eating the berries of 

 the moonseed (Menispermum Canadense). The berries are 

 similar in appearance to frost grapes and the boys ate a great 

 many. In spite of promptly administered emetics they soon died 

 in convulsions. The action of the drug is said to have been 

 similar to that of strychnine. Moonseed is a relative of the well 

 known drug plant, Cocculus indicus, which is also poisonous. 

 Although moonseed berries resemble grapes, the ripe fruit is very 

 unpalatable, which fact alone will doubtless prevent many oc- 

 currences of this nature. 



Armed Plants. — "It is often a matter of conjecture 

 among visitors to botanical gardens and elsewhere that collec- 

 tions of tropical plants are grown, as to the reason for so many 

 of them being armed with thorns, spikes, and prickles," says 

 Gardening World. " It is now generally conceded that these 

 members of the torrid zone have got to arm themselves thus 

 against the eternal preying of the herbivorous animals. In some 

 parts where vegetation is scarcer, and where the mammalia are 

 hard pressed for food, the plants are found to be very strongly 



