Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 07.djvu/335

PLANT 269 PLANTATION and fertilization through a natural or artificial transfer of pollen is often re- sorted to. Improvement to various grrains, sugar beets, potatoes, etc., has been accomplished by emasculating se- lected specimens. When the stigma of these are ripe, pollen from other selected plants is applied, and the plants are kept under a gauze hood to prevent accidental contact with other pollen. The seeds of these specially treated specimens are col- lected, and used for future breeding. Artificial asexual methods, of which grafting is the most common, are the simplest form of plant breeding, and though perhaps the surest of the meth- ods, are not likely to produce the strong- est plants. A large number of experi- ments must be made, and a great amount of tedious work done before a new type is produced that can be introduced com- mercially. Not all the specimens are improvements, for plants are just as likely to degenerate under the process as they are to improve. These simple rules are used by many of the leading plant breeders : Well developed seedlings produce the best plants; small leaves usually mean undersized fruit; pale leaves mean pale fruit; great productiveness does not go with earliness. PLANT, MORTON F., an American financier. He was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1852, and when 16 went as clerk with an express company at Memphis, Tenn., later finding a position in railroad work. From 1884 he was connected with the Plant System of rail- roads, becoming vice-president. He co- operated in its merging with the Atlan- tic Coast Line of which he became a director, as likewise of the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisiana Railway. Apart from his railroad interests, he was prominent in banking affairs, and owned several yachts, in which sport he found relaxation. He died in 1918. PLANTAGENETS, the surname of a line of English kings, who were of French origin on the paternal side — Henry II. of England, the first of the line, having been the son of Geoffrey V., Duke of Anjou, and of Matilda, daugh- ter of Henry I. The Duke of Anjou was so named because he usually wore a sprig of broom — in Latin planta gen- ista, in French plante genet — in his cap. Henry II. ascended the English throne in 1154, and his descendants reigned during 331 years, the last monarch of the line being Richard III., who fell at the battle of Bosworth, in 1485. In the 14th century the line became divided into two great rival factions, that of York Vol. VII— Cyc and of Lancaster, known as the parties of the Red and White Rose. PLANTAGINACE^, or PLATAG- INE^, ribworts ; an order of perigynous exogens, alliance Cortusales. Herbace- ous plants with or without a stem. Leaves flat and ribbed or taper and fleshy. Flowers in spikes, solitary. Distribution world-wide : known genera three, species over 200. PLANTAGO, plantain or ribgrass ; the typical genus of the order Plantagin- aceae; herbs, with bisexual flowers. Mucilaginous and astringent. Known species about 48. In India the leaves of P. major are applied to bruises. P. cor- onopus is diuretic. Demulcent drinks can be made from P. psyllium, P. aren- aria, and P. cynops. The seeds of P. psyllium and P. ispaghula, treated with hot water, yield a mucilage given in India in diarrhoea, dysentery, catarrh, gonorrhoea, and nephritic diseases. P. amplexicaulis is used in India in phthi- sis, snake poison, intermittent fever, and as an external application in ophthalmia. Soda is obtained in Egypt from P. squarrosa. PLANTAIN, the Musa paradisiaca, a small tree closely akin to the banana from which it differs in not having pur- ple spots on its stem. The fruit also is larger and more angular. It is ex- tensively cultivated throughout India, where its leaf is used for dressing blistered wounds and as a rest for the eye in ophthalmia. Powdered and dried, it is used to stop bleeding at the nose. The fruit is delicious and thoroughly wholesome. When unripe it is cooling and astringent, and very useful in dia- betes. The root is anthelmintic, and the sap is given to allay thirst in cholera. PLANTAIN EATERS, Musophagidx, a family of birds, of African distribu- tion, arboreal habits, and vegetarian diet. The species of Musophaga are bluish black, the Turacous (Turacus) are light green with carmine wing- feathers. This occurrence of a green pigment, as distinguished from a green color, is unique among birds, and the carmine pigment is also interesting be- cause it seems to be partially washed out during the rainy season. PLANTATION, a term formerly used to designate a colony. The term was latterly applied to an estate or tract of land in the Southern States, the West Indies, etc., cultivated chiefly by negroes or other non-European laborers. In the Southern States the term planter is specially applied to a person who grows cotton, sugar, rice, or tobacco. 13