ii8 'Me Australasian Scientific Magazine. [Oct. i, 1885. 
At a recent meeting of the Linnman Society a paper by Mr. Alfred 
Tyler was read in part. The whole was entitled “ On the Growth of trees 
and Protoplasmic Continuity.” The portion of the paper which dealt with 
the growth of trees was that read before the Society. Mr. Tyler’s chief 
object was to show the principles that underlie the individuality of plants, 
and to prove that plants have a dim sort of intelligence, and are not merely 
an aggregation of tissues responsive to the direct influence of light. Not 
only this, but that the tree as a whole knows more than its branches, just 
as the species know more than the individual, and the community than the 
unit. The result of Mr. Tyler’s experiments, which have extended over 
many years, has been to show that many plants and trees can adapt them- 
selves to unfamiliar circumstances, such as avoiding obstacles artificially 
placed in their way, by bending aside before touching, or by altering the 
leaf arrangement, so that at least as much voluntary power must be accorded 
to such plants as to certain lowly organised animals. Finally, Mr. Tyler 
contends that a connecting system, by means of which combined move- 
ment takes place, is to be found in the threads of protoplasm which unite 
the various cells, and that this connecting system is found even in the new 
wood of trees. He has also observed that the new wood of nearly all trees 
points upwards, but that year after year it changes its direction, showing 
much mobility. 
With regard to the intelligence and observation of the aborigines of 
Australia in respect of flowers, the Australian blacks on the coast are 
expert fishermen, and are aware of the season of particular kinds of fish by 
the blowing of certain flowers ; for instance, when the brilliant flowers of 
the waratch, or native tulip, appear, it is an indication that the sole is to be 
found on the sandbanks about Botany Bay and Cook’s River. According 
also to the flowering of other trees and shrubs the time is known to them 
for the advent of mullet, of kingfish, schnapper, gurnet, etc., and that these 
will be found in the bays and rivers of the coast. In civilized England 
they also consider certain periodical occurrences of nature in flowers as 
guides in angling and other rural occupations. When the elder buds are 
developed fishermen consider that the eels leave their haunts ; when the 
wheat blossoms anglers believe perch will bite readily. The flowering of 
certain plants in England is also associated with certain days. Thus with 
St. George’s Day is associated the blue-bell ; the Guelder rose, or snowball 
tree (■ viburnum ) with Whitsuntide ; the flowering of the elder with sheep- 
shearing. The mulberry, both in England and New South Wales, is a shy 
tree, and when its foliage is fully developed we may consider the summer 
established. 
The Bill which has just been read a third time, and passed by the 
Ontario (Canada) Legislature, for the preservation of the natural scenery 
about Niagara Falls, provides for the appointment of a Board of Commis- 
sioners, who are empowered to select land for park purposes and recom- 
mend to the Legislature a plan for adoption. It the Commissioners fail to 
agree with property-owners as to the prices and terms of payment, the 
prices to be paid shall be determined by the provincial arbitrators. Should 
the park project be entrusted to a company, the company’s grounds shall 
be open to the public free of charge, and all plans of proposed works shall 
be submitted to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. The company may 
make agreements with other companies, may make rules and regulations to 
preserve order, and may acquire, under carefully stated conditions, lands 
and works necessary to the prosecution of their project. 
