252 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



and it is thoroughly recognised that the intensity of the illumination 

 controls the arrangement of the granules. How it does so is still 

 a question, but it is more or less an accepted theory that living 

 protoplasm has a directive property owing to which it can distribute 

 the granules in the way which is most beneficial for the growth 

 of the plant. Protoplasm cannot live without water, and in the 

 absence of a sufficient supply it loses much of its power. Moreover, 

 the arrangement of the granules during darkness is not the same as 

 during diffuse or direct sunlight. Further, there is the alteration in 

 the shape of the granules under varied illumination which has to be 

 explained, and which so far has not been traced to any action of 

 protoplasm. Flat, angular, polygonal tablets, as in the leaflets of 

 Funaria hygro metric a, become hemi-spherical or spherical bodies, 

 when direct sunlight succeeds diffused light. Are we straining the 

 analogy too far in tracing a connection between the change of shape 

 in chlorophyll -granules by sunslight, and a similar change in the 

 cirrus particles, owing to which the lines became perceptibly thicker 

 about noon? 



We already have the hypothesis advanced that the vital force 

 of the sun regulates the processes of synthesis going on in the cells 

 where chlorophyll-granules are at work. To the vibratory energy of 

 the blue and violet rays the decomposition and transformation of the 

 carbohydrates are ascribed, while the less refrangible rays assist their 

 formation from the raw materials. Protoplasm is unable to accom- 

 plish this without the aid of the chlorophyll-granules, and it is in 

 them that the processes are carried on. They retain or extinguish 

 those rays which might hinder the formation of carbohydrates, trans- 

 form rays with short wave-lengths into those of longer wave-length, 

 that sugar and starch may be more effectually manufactured ; 

 and, finally, effect the conversion of light into heat, and ultimately 

 into latent heat. * It would only be a step further in the theory of 

 synthesis under the action of sun's energy to ascribe to the same 

 energy a directive influence upon chlorophyll-granules, similar to that 

 which was seen at sunrise on March 12th controlling the distribution 

 of the cirrus particles. 



The following experiments were accordingly carried out to see 

 whether any special influence was exerted upon chlorophyll-granules 

 by sunrise rays, which could be detected during the growth of a plant. 

 A strip of garden ground, which w^as practically virgin soil, was 

 lightly manured with stable manure, and on Feb. 19th, 20th, 28th, 

 and on March 6th, twenty-six rows, each 12ft. long, of Dwarf 

 Stratagem peas, onions, beets, and lettuces were carefully planted. 

 The rows ran north and south, and except for a low hedge of 

 pomegranate and quinces 4ft. high and at a distance of not less 

 than 3ft. from the rows, they may be described as unsheltered from 

 the sun till about 4 p.m. Each plant was watched from the moment 

 its leaves appeared above ground, and its position was entered on a 

 large chart. Bv March 23rd considerable differences could be traced, 



* Natural History of Plants, from the German of Anton Kerner, 1894, vol. I 

 pp. 371-9- 



