Southern planter - The W&M Digital Archive

386 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [July
relation to cacli other of cause and effect
so that in the oyster and zoophytes, and
other specimens el' feeble animal existence,
where the nervous system is too rudimcntal
its functions.
Now, what evidence is there that
plants possess either sensation or locomo-
tion ? I believe it has never been asserted
that they have the least pretension to locomotion,
(except by the learned and distinguished
physiologist from whom " B."
quotes, and to whom we will refer again j)
and as locomotion and sensation go hand
in hand, and always co-exist in the relation
of cause and effect ; in the absence of the
one there is no need of the other, and in
the absence of both there is no need of the
organization that produces and presides
over them. Had Nature endowed plants
with such organs and functions, she, in all
probability, would have made them to stand
out in the same bold relief in the one kingdom
as in the other. In all other respects
she has constructed plants with their organs
and functions as conspicuous as those
of the animal kingdom. As animals were
certainly designed for one purpose and
vegetables for another, why can we not
accept these higher attributes of sensation
and locomotion as the distinguishing char-
acteristic—the beginning, at least, of a
separation of the animal from the vegetable
kingdom. To answer the ends of vegetable
life, there is no need of such functions or
such organs, whilst they are indispensable
to animal existence. Every motion in the actions.
animal organism proceeds from the nervous, " B." informs me "I am mistaken in sup-
apparatus. The phenomena of motion in posing alcohol innoxious to plants, and that
the vegetable, as the circulation of the sap, I
and the closing of leaves and flowers, depend
on physical and mechanical laws.
Heat and light are the remote causes of
motion in vegetables, their growth and development,
and also the assimilation of
their food, being dependent upon external
circumstances and influences which produce
motion. There are two sets of circumstan-
ces necessary to produce any activity in
vegetables, viz : the presence of matter for
assimilation and of heat and light j the increase
of the plant being dependent upon
the presence of material out of which its
food can be elaborated through the operation
of these indispensable agents; but
heat and light are powerless of them-
selves without the presence of something
upon which to operate. There is no organ
in -the plant whose functions they (that is,
heat and light,) can in the slightest degree
to be demonstrated, we have a perfect right increase, without the presence of pabulum
to infer its existence from the presence of to act upon, and when this pabulum is elab-
orated, assimilation goes on under the con-
trol of a " vis vitx," and growth and development
are the necessary consequence.
In animals, on the contrary, we recognize
a distinct power residing in a nervous system
capable of renewing itself, at every instant
of life—a power peculiar to themselves—self-generating,
depending upon none
of those external influences to which vege-
tables are subject as the source of their
motion, a mere operation of the will being
sufficient to develop it and to produce the
motion which is indispensable to the vital
process. Joy or anger excites it, and disturbs
its equilibrium. The action of " mere
stimulants" produces the intensest activity,
without any increase or development what-
ever. *
Says " B.," " The gentleman will scarce-
ly deny that when the vital forces or actions
of plants are exalted or quickened, that the
circulation of the nutritious juices in the
plant are at the same time accelerated."
In reply to which we say that " B."
but makes the common mistake of putting
the cart before the horse, or mistaking the
effect for the cause. The acceleration of
the nutritious juices, consequent upon an
abundant supply ; that is elaborated under
the influence of heat and light, is what
exhausts and quickens the vital forces or
I will be convinced of the mistake by pouring
strong brandy on a delicate plant." I
am rather opposed to wasting the material
by such an experiment. Could he have
been so indiscreet as to put his to such a vile
purpose ? If he will inform me how I can
persuade his little nervous membranes to
u. imbibe
a mouth-full," I would consent to
spare as much : but I can't stand this
pouring on, as I would not only waste my
brandy, but burn my plant, though not
quite so effectually as by using a strong
acid, or fire, the effect of each and all such
agents being to destroy the structure partially
or wholly according to the degree of
concentration by a chemical action. If I
could direct a little " spirits and water" in-