THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 83 



duces roots along the stem, the directing force is Hght, for no 

 matter where the roots appear they immediately grow toward 

 the darkness. In this way they are surest of finding something 

 to lay hold of. In the chokeberry and some other shrubs, 

 some roots after traveling under ground for some distance 

 turn upward and produce shoots at their tips. Roots that 

 are ordinarily influenced by gravity will also turn aside for 

 moisture if the pull of gravity would take them into dry soil. 

 It thus appears, that the root, lacking even the rudiments of 

 a nervous system, can yet perceive various forces and use or 

 leave them as the necessity warrants. 



Keeping Cut Flow^ers Fresh. — No greater amount of 

 misinformation in the same space can be found in the ordinary 

 newspaper than that which offers directions for keeping cut 

 flowers fresh. Among the things recommended are putting 

 the ends of the stems in boiling water, putting charcoal, soda, 

 ammonia and other substances in the water in which the flow- 

 ers are placed. The truth of the matter is simply this: flow- 

 ers, like animals, are constantly transpiring moisture ; a wilted 

 flower has lost so much moisture that its cells are no longer 

 filled and therefore cannot hold the parts in position ; the 

 moisture to replenish the cells comes upward from the roots 

 through the stem. The way to keep flowers fresh, then, is 

 to surround it with the conditions that will assist it to retain 

 its moisture and to get more. Warmth promotes evaporation 

 and cold retards it; therefore avoid placing the flowers in 

 direct sunlight or in a very warm room. Dry air also favors 

 evaporation and flowers should be kept in a* moist air, if 

 possible. If not, spraying the foliage is of value. Since leaves 

 also transpire, do not allow too many to remain on the stems. 

 In many plants there is a considerable tension within the stems 

 and when they are cut or broken this tension allows the air 

 to rush in and fill up the tubes through which the water travels. 

 Before placing your flowers in the vase cut off a few inches of 



