Southern planter - The W&M Digital Archive

1859.] THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 387
tcrnally to its susceptibilities, I would sac-
rifice a little of the u over-joyful" to see ;;
drunken plant. He also informs me that
brandy is not a "mere stimulant" to animals,
though it be the type of the class of " mere
stimulants," from which I infer, he means,
that while plants arc susceptible to the ac-
tion of u more stimulants," animals are
not. How is it with hope, and joy, and
anger ? Are they fattening also ? Rut I
hate to give up the brandy ; and I know
that u B." has the good taste to like it,
too,—for lie says that u it is destruction to
rose bushes, but as fattening as Cod-liver to
man," which we in all our admiration must
doubt ; and we will hazard our opinion
that, if "B." will go it on brandy alone
for one month his " fair, round belly
and good caponed loin" will vanish into
the lean and lank Cassius form.
Again he asks, * How does the gentleman
know that all the positive phenomena
of such action (stimulant) are found in
connection with such a known system of
nerves." Because I have never known the
application of any stimulant to anything
without nerves to produce phenomena in
accordance with the functions of a nervous
apparatus, and the manifestations of the
functions of a nervous apparatus are what
I call " the positive phenomena."
" B." quotes from a u learned and dis-
tinguished physiologist in vegetables" the
following remarkable enunciation of facts ;
but however learned and distinguished his
authority may be, he must excuse us for
asking for the proof. An " ipse dixit,"
is one mode of imparting knowledge and a
quod erat demonstrandum" is another.
And where propositions are new and start-
ling, we of little faith require the latter :
" Two properties direct the action of
their small number of functions j a latent
and faint sensibility, in virtue of wnich,
each vessel, every part of the plant is affected
in its own way by the fluids with
which it is in contact,—a contactility as
little apparent, though the results prove L-
refragibly its existence; a contactility
in virtue of which the vessels sensible to
the impression of liquids close or dilate
themselves to effect their transmission or
elaboration. The organs allotted to reproduction
animate, for a moment, this exhibition
; more sensible, more irritable, they
are visibly in action j the stamina, or male
organs bow themselves over the female
organs, tiie pistil shakes on the stigma the
fertilizing dust, then straightens, retires
from it, and dies with the flower, which is
succeeded by the seed or fruit."
So you perceive the learned and distinguished
physiologist has not only discovered
" a latent and faint sensibility," but also
the highest attributes of animal life, consciousness
and volition. We can but think
that the learned gentleman left the province
of philosophical research for that of fancy.
M B." refers, very properly, the agency
of heat, in producing such sublime phenomena
in the mineral kingdom, to its expansive
powers ; but supposes it possesses
another and distinct power when applied to
the vegetable and animal kingdoms. He
says, ** the potency here excited is an exalting,
quickening, life-giving energy." So
it is; but how does «it do it? We apprehend,
(if he will permit the expression,)
by the agency of the same expansive
power elaborating the elements of nutrition
out of pre-existing compounds, and
when these elements are brought within
reach of the assimilating power of vegetables,
they produce " an exalting, quickening,
life-giving energy."
Heat has but one force and one power,
and that is manifested alike upon all Oodles
and all matter. It is a great disengaging
force tending to separate particles of mat-
ter, and its antagonistic force is " affinity."
Yet it is frequently employed to aid the
power of affinity, by presenting matter in
a more eligible condition.
We acknowledge the receipt of the
" autograph," and must confess to no little
anxiety to meet in person the individual
(on many accounts) that owns so remarka-
ble a cognomen, and am not surprized that
he hesitates to give it to the public. For,
were it " Scroggins," it would not be less
euphoneous than the veritable " autograph."
W. A. BRADFORD.
Clarke Co., June 8th, 1859.
«»•»>
Sex of Eggs.
A correspondent of an English paper affirms
that he learned whilst in France,
among the best poultry breeders, that the
long narrow eggs were set aside as male eggs,
or those that would produce male chickens if
hatched out, and that the round dumpy ones
would produce female chickens.