94 DICOTYLEDONS \ 



part of the plant, but a great deal flows outwards t/ where the 

 tips of the roots are waitiug for their nourishment r see Mango 

 tree, page 27). The rest goes into the soil, where it Is protected 

 from evaporation and can sink in to the deeper lying roots. 



2. The stem bears at its end great panicles of tubular Flowers, 

 which are either white or red. The five stamens are inserted 

 in the tube of the corolla between its lobes (fig. 90, 2). The Fruit 

 is a capsule formed of two carpels (fig. 90, 5). When ripe, it opens 

 in two valves (tig. 90, 4) to let the small seeds escape. 



The cross- section of a seed (fig. 90, 7) shows that the embryo 

 is embedded in a separate tissue, called endosperm, which forms 

 a nourishing substance for the plantlet when it begins to grow. 

 The embryo is curved. 



3. In growing the plant for Tobacco the stem is nipped off 

 when it reaches a height of about twelve inches and is not allowed 

 to flower. Why? Evidently to aid the formation of the leaves 

 out of the material that might be wasted in the production 

 of flowers and seeds. When the leaves are fully grown, the 

 plant is cut down and left in the field for several days, after 

 which, early in the morning when there is still dew on them, 

 they are removed in bundles of forty or fifty leaves. If the leaves 

 are too dry and there is no dew on them, water is sprinkled 

 on the leaves before removal. These bundles are then put in a 

 stack where they are frequently rearranged from top and bottom 

 to middle and from middle to outside. During this process of 

 curing a fermentation by the agency of certain bacteria takes 

 place. After about two months the leaves are ready for smoking, 

 chewing or making into snuff. 



Tobacco contains a poison, called Nicotine, of which a single 

 drop suffices to kill a dog. Continuous excessive use of tobacco 

 produces heart and bowel diseases, and can bring on the entire 

 ruin of the body. For children tobacco, taken even in small 

 quantities, is a dangerous poison. _ ^^ 



(c) Other Nightshades. 



The Brinjal (Sol(inunimeloHf/ena; Kan Badane; Jl/«/. Valutina; 

 Ta)n. Valudaliii; Tel. Vahkjiyi; Hiu. Baiiigan) produces the well- 



