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Personality of plants

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PERSONALITY OF PLANTS<br />

the intruder. The animal world cannot exhibit<br />

a higher sensitiveness to touch than that displayed<br />

by the celebrated Venus Fly-Trap. On<br />

each side <strong>of</strong> the leaf midrib stand three<br />

sharp little bristles. They are the sense organs<br />

controlling the closing <strong>of</strong> the vegetable spring.<br />

Quick must an insect be to escape their vigilance.<br />

Sensation and imagery are so closely con-<br />

nected in the human brain that the existence <strong>of</strong><br />

one would seem to predicate the other. Fortun-<br />

ately, we have very good evidence to indicate<br />

the faculty <strong>of</strong> plant memory, which must ne-<br />

cessarily be built up <strong>of</strong> images <strong>of</strong> one kind or<br />

another.<br />

If a plant which is accustomed to folding its<br />

leaves together in sleep on the setting <strong>of</strong> the<br />

sun, be placed in a completely dark room, it<br />

will continue to decline and elevate its foliage<br />

at regular intervals, indicating that it remem-<br />

bers the necessity for rest even with the reminder<br />

<strong>of</strong> outside stimuli lacking.<br />

By what faculty do <strong>plants</strong> become aware <strong>of</strong><br />

the approach <strong>of</strong> spring? Only occasionally are<br />

they deceived by January thaws, and no matter<br />

how unseasonably cold a March may be, they<br />

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