THE LIFE OF THE LEAF 



but as August comes on this balance is disturbed. 

 Doubtless there are subtile reasons for this that 

 we do not know — but the cell space is clogged 

 with foreign matter, the sunshine is less intense 

 and, moreover, winter in which no leaf can 

 work, is on its way. At any rate the fact re- 

 mains. 



And now the tragedy of the leaf begins in 

 that the demand for output apparently does not 

 lessen, while the intake not only lessens but 

 finally stops. Under stress of this demand how 

 enforced we do not know, the leaf gives up its 

 working protoplasm, the chlorophyll bodies dis- 

 integrate and surrender not only all their prod- 

 ucts but everything of their composition which 

 is valuable. The leaf is absolutely drained as 

 time goes on of everything that is worth saving 

 for the tree, and at last falls a hollow shell. 



While the leaf is thus rending itself asunder 

 it seems to be doing this to the very music of 

 the spheres expressed in color, for this is the 

 period of the great change. As the chlorophyll 

 bodies disintegrate the green color changes into 



131 



