A stick cut in the shape of Fig. 3 was purposely split at the short end, the split reaching beyond the hole. As the wood was highly
Fig. 3.—Outline of Piece of Stick (reduced to one half natural size), with a hole through which the radicle of a bean grew. Thickness of stick at narrow end, ·08 inch; at broad end, ·16. Depth of hole, ·1 inch.
elastic, the split closed as soon as it was made. The stick and bean were buried in damp sand, the bean being placed so that the radicle in growing would enter this hole. After six days they were dug up, and the radicle was found much enlarged above and beneath the hole. The fissure was open to a width of four millimetres, but as soon as the radicle was removed it closed to two m.m. The stick was then suspended horizontally by a fine wire passing through the hole, and a little saucer was suspended beneath it to receive the weights, and it required eight pounds eight ounces to open the fissure to the width of four m.m.
Again, "holes were bored near the narrow end of two wooden clips or pincers (Fig. 4), kept closed by brass spiral springs. Two radicles