PLANT INTELLIGENCE.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 20, 30 July 1920, Page 7

PLANT INTELLIGENCE.

Mr Crosby Smith, F.L.S., has forwarded me a copy of his interesting little booklet dealing with "Plant Intelligence." It possessess some oi the leading features elaborated upon at a recent lecture given by him to the Southland Naturalist Society. It is intelligibly written and devoid of technical terminology which would tend to obscure its interpretation to the average reader. It will no doubt be on sale in the local bookshops, and if it will provoke interest and enquiry from those of us who have not traversed the field of scientific enquiry, the winter will consider himself amply rewai'ded. The utmost difficulty exists in making an analytical survey of the provinces of "Feeling," "Intelligence," and "Perception," as applicabie to the phenomena elaborated by Mr Smith. Nevertheless it is convenient to at least assume something of the kirid to be true in order to render at least a moderate degree of intelligibility and make wliat is a very perplexing problem capable of expression ; ever remember.ng that while we know a great deal about the "Efl'ect," we know little about the "Cause." It is possibly safe to state, as Mr Smith does, that there is "direction and purpose." The evidence points that way, notwithstanding all that is embraced in the admission. Whatever ma-y be the truth of the matter, it seems certain that it cannot be explained in the realm of chemistry. This forces one into a position from which he can be pardoned for beatin.g a hasty retreat, and I must pass on to Mr Smith s interesting remarlcs on diatoms.

He rightly calls them "the inosL beautiful of miscroscopic wonders." In using the microscope, the mycologist enters into a kingdom never even dreamt of by the non-initiated. Even the low-power lens reveals countless numbers of most be-auti-ft.i animals and plants. The aiatom, like everything else tliat lives, has one main object in vi.ew, and that is, that its species shall survive. Mr Smith has plainly explained this by his illustration of the "pill box," and shows how the two diatoms fuse to.gether to form an individual of sensible proportions. As explained | by the writer, some diatoms live singly and mcve about at their "own free will." It must. be left to the owner of a microscope to feel the sensation occasioned by the movements of fhese extraordinary plants. Suffice is it to say, that the apparently inert diamond or oval shapod objects glide out of the field of view, and shouid they meet with an obstacle, will change their direction. Desmids resemble diatoms in the fact that they are single-celled plants. "Minute green plants," is perha.ps the best description one could give them. Their green colour being due to chlorophyll. The grace. ful movements of a desmid across a microscopic slide certainly gives oue the impression of an animal. Furthermore, the question naturally arises : How does the plant make the cell ? And eacli little cell of the same kirid build a case similar in every aetail to others of the same family? In finally tfianking Mr Smith for his excellent little booklet, we can confidently recommend it to our thoughtful readers.