Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 56 — page 121: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION he had held to himself for so long. ““We’ll have to wait and see. The plan is that when I have the final new species I will produce a giant model and grow it right in the middle of the Crystal Palace here. It will have a fine perfume, very large flowers, a hardy con- stitution and will flower all the year round. As for the human part of the symbiosis, I am taking advantage of the normal pollination pro- cedures but substituting a man for the flies, moths, bees and wind which nature normally uses.” “Well, it all sounds very marvellous and I wish you success, but look here, I’m at a loose end——” George paused for the briefest of seconds, then continued, as though he had made his mind up: “‘Could I join you? What I mean is, I have a good botanical knowledge and if you are willing to let me stay here, I could assist.’’ Again he broke off as his eye caught sight of more specimens. 120 “‘What’s this Dionoea, Utri- cularia and Nepenthes—all the insect-catching plants? You’ve included them in your experi- ments ?” “Your catching on quickly, George. I thought for a long time before including them. All of them get their nitrogen not from the soil but from catching and digesting insects. Then they have well developed ‘motor’ cells, and for various reasons I included them with the intention that if conditions grew difficult for the plant it could always feed itself from the insects it could catch. Though the whole arrangement is secondary to feeding itself through the roots. Now I would be de- lighted to have a collaborator and helper on this idea, and as for living here—there are half a dozen rooms upstairs you can choose from.” 9 That was how the partner- ship was formed, and George, already attracted by the scope of John’s ideas, found himself comiclooks.cormn