Plants That Eat Insects

Francis Darwin, a son of tue greai naturalist, has beea tnvestigating tha effect on insectivorous plants of supplying them with and withholding from them animal lood. He grew ten of these carnivorous plants under similar conditions. One plant of the lot he ted with roast meat (one-ñftieth of a Igrain being placed on the secreting glands of the plant eacU hour), while from all the others all suca food was carefully excluded. The results of this I !„„„♦ ,,.nvo vprv marked in eral particulars, the greatest belng in the number, weight, and vitality of lts seeds Thé number of seeds produced by the plant that was glven lts regular ratlons of animal matter was 240 to each 100 produced by planta whicn were unfed, wille the total weight of the seeds was as 380 to 100. In other words, the plants which-were restricted to a diet wholly vegetable were invalids compared with the plants that were furnished with animal food. The increased heaviness of the seeds is another item to be noted. as it certainly implies increased vitality. At least it is so with wheat, as any farmer will teil you you, it belng the rule Mt ti,p heavier the grain the greater