OCR Text |
Show .hMe!-! " - Shakespeare Plants. Tho nbovo term Is a new ono to us and Is doubtless now to most ot our rcadors. Tho writer was looking over some pot experiments being conducted conduct-ed at tho University of IlllnolH by Professor Pro-fessor Cyril O. Hopkins when ho camo to ono pot In which was Ren nn unusual un-usual condition of plant growth. Tho pot contained soil In which wns a largo fimount of nlkall, so much io that plant llfo could make but llttlo headway in it. Whllo In other pots nearby whero tho soil was good tho plants stood two fcot high, in this pot most of tho plants wero ot spindling growth and not over four Inches In height. Thero wore ten plants In each pot, that tho results might bo bet tor compared. uut in this pot was one plant that towered above Its follows. Professor Hopkins romarked: "Thnt Is what tho boys call a Shakospearo plant." Tho writer measured It and found tho height to bo 28 Inches. Moreover It had stoolcd 'out and had thrco largo stalks In addition to tho principal stalk. Tho volumo of tbo plant was nt least thirty times thot ot tho avorago plants In tho pots. Now ns to tho causo ot such a development de-velopment In nn unfriendly medium, Professor Hopkins did not wish to ox-pross ox-pross his opinion as to tho causo, for tho truo scientist docs not ilko to got tho reputation of being n guosser. Ho wishes to send out to tho public only opinions that havo a Btrong nrray of facts behind them, nnd In that ho Is right. But tho ordinary mortal cannot can-not help reaching for possible Interpretations Inter-pretations of unusual things. It may bo that this plant has tho power to resist nlkall to such a degreo that It Is ablo to dovclop In splto ot It. It this Is so, Its seed may bq saved and bo planted In subsequent years to got a variety of whent that cares nothing noth-ing for alkali. Tho probability Is that thero Is much In this plnnt that Is of valuo to the world, for such plants havo nlrcady been found among other economic plants, such as cotton. Wo havo no doubt that tho seed ot this plant will bo savod and further oxporl--meats mado with it. There are, of course, other possible though not probable, explanations. Ono Is that tho alkali Is not ovenly distributed In tho soil In which tho plant Is growing and another Is that tho water used In tho pot has caused moro leaching out of tho alkali In ono part ot tho pot than in other pnr,tr Such explanations Vj (not, A V-J- f ro2lvf much O 'ClOL 'to-back'Ih-em. , ZV7-Pi. this big plant ramify all over the"pot. |