The Modern Review/Volume 38/Number 5/Sir J. C. Bose’s Instruments

Sir J. C. Bose’s Instruments

The Inquirer of London quotes the portion relating to the nervous system of plants in Sir J. C. Bose’s seventh anniversary address at the Bose Institute, which we printed in full immediately after its delivery. In that address Prof. Bose said:

“It was after the successful invention of instruments of very high delicacy and precision that these very significant discoveries could be made.”

The Inquirer’s comments are as follows:—

“Before Sir J. C. Bose invented and utilized these new instruments, in which the registration of extremely minute movements is made possible by reflected light-beams, it was generally supposed by physiologists (led by certain German speculations) that “water-movement” of the response of plants to transmitted excitation. Now, however, the new methods of investigation are being pursued in German universities and editions of his works are not only in preparation in Germany but in France. A practical side to these interesting researches is pointed out by Sir Jagadis: “The discoveries in the laws of growth hold out great possibilities in increasing growth in plants on which the food-supply of the world depends.”

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