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Canary grass Phalaris

Dec. 23d 11° 45 to 1° By searching pot with Lens I found a seedling with white knife edge on exact level with surface of ground: I remove the earth for exactly 1/4 deep all round & put under compound in Hothouse, protected from light except from above— Each division of micrometer = 1/500 of inch. I left plant for 1/2 hour & then observed it. It passed over 2/500 of inch in 9'. 15". After interval of 2 or 3 minutes passed over 2/500 in 8' 50". But as movement was obliquely to the side which I had to exposed momentary to light whilst observing I mistrusted. I left plant for about 3/4 of Hour & observed again without at all exposing to light & now it travelled for light & crossed 1/500 in 5'. But it was really going much quicker for it was moving to left-hand, obliquely across micrometer. There can be no doubt nutates whilst beneath the soil, or at least wd do so if it could & probably does does when soil damp & yielding. When plants come pa up through fine damp sand a minute crack may be observed round them, which can be accounted for only by nutation.

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