The Carrying Power of Spores and Plant-Life in Deep Caves

Abstract

My sister and I observed a similar growth of vegetation to that which Mr. Lough. Pendred describes in the Cheddar Caves in NATURE of August 5, p. 709. We were on a knapsack-walking tour together in the Hartz Mountains in 1900, and saw this effect in the beautiful, great, deep Rübeland Caves. These were then lit up by both oil and electric lamps placed, as in the Cheddar Caves, in recesses or on the floor so as to illuminate the stalactites and bone remains. We were told that the ex-Kaiser had ordered the electric illumination, not being content with the previous oil lamps, but both kinds of lighting were still there.