‘ 
agi 
\ animals to disseminate their seeds. ‘ 
method adopted is generally that of a- 
20. 
Orchards Gardens, Orangeries, 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
‘Tune 1, 1908. 
&e. : 
We have a Splendid Shechon of Really Good Payable Properties, some with Grand River 
Frontages and Irrigation Plants. 
Also Good Lucerne and Dairy Brave tes a : ee 
Also a number of Ghoies City and Suburban Residences, some of the (iter with foo aCres. 
_ attached 
ra 
Clients driven to inspect, free cf charge. 
PRIE ST & JAMES, 
| Hiant red. Why this bold front? Has 
the arum some other scheme on hand ? 
Yes ; the arum once more needs service 
‘from the animal world. Many plants not 
ecaly bribe insects to assist in fertilizing 
their flowers, but also induce larger 
The 
juicy, sweet pulp around the hard seed, 
so that the animal echall carry off the 
fruit and cast away the stone, or seed, 
in distant places where it may germinate. 
In the case of the arum we have this 
principle carried out exactly. Hach of. 
_ those tiny pistils has now become a red 
juicy berry containing a hard seed, which 
boldly invites animals to feast upon it, 
But the berries are extremely poisonous, 
- and therefore the whole theory is appar- 
ently contradictory. The fruit is made 
attractive and inviting to tempt the 
appetite, but then it is made poisonous 
to prevent it from being eaten. 
there is something amiss here! © 
Surely 
We have to remember, however, the 
fact that birds are so constituted that 
what is poisonous to man and other 
animals is not aiwvays so to them, The 
thrush, for example, devours the arum 
“berries with impuuity, but at the same 
‘time there are many smaller birds and 
_ larger animals, not to mention man, to 
whom these same berries would probably 
prove fatal. 
The fact very likely is that 
LAND AGENTS, 
Zo Pirie St.. 
‘ TELEPHONE 
the arum specially caters for birds of the 
thrush class, that consume its fruit and 
convey its seeds far and wide, and not 
for the nibbling animals which might do 
the seeds an injury. As the plant has 
which prevent undesirable animals from 
munching its seeds, the thrushes, which 
best serve the purpose of distribution, 
have kept even pace in the development 
of their power to resist the poison ; like 
confirmed opium- -eaters, they may now 
consume quantities of Dasou, that would 
. mean death to others. 
Let us suppose, however, that a small 
animal or bird ate such berries and — 
thereby lost its life, the decaying remains 
-would offer advantages to the-developing — 
plant after the seed had germinated. By 
the law of hereditary, too, the sncceeding 
- generation of arums, on account of this 
advantage, would develop still stronger 
poison in their berries. _ 
OMMEROCIAL AND ORNAMEN- 
TAL PRINTING of every descrip- 
tion in first-class style, on the shortest 
notice, and at cheapest rates, at the 
“Australian Gardener’”’ Office, corner of 
Pirie and Wyatt streets, 
slowly evolved its poisonous properties 
Adelaide. 
1817. 
Here follows a short story of a scientific 
experiment. 
A silly scientist imported a few years 
ago a gipsy moth into America» 
It escaped, and feeling itself in the land 
of freedom laid a supply of eggs, no Chis: 
in the prolific manner of moths. 
The descendauts of that moth sitayalti 
exceedingly and scattered themselves 
through the land. 
Now the Government is spending 
£200,000 a year in the hope of holding 
them in check. 
Depot for the Patent. 
“ CHAMPION” 
Shoulder Brace Corsets. 
Depot for The Improved. 
Health Corsets for In- 
valids, Tennis, Cycling, 
Golf and everyday wear. 
Abdominal Belts. 
.made to order. 
Also Ladies’, Gents’, 
and Maids’ Shoulder: 
' Braces, 
MRS. Ls HUTTON, 
- GORSETIERE, 
413 SELBORNE CHAMBERS, PIRIE ST. 
