130 LIVING PLANTS 



had begun they were restored to a normal 

 condition. 



In order to cultivate plants in darkness but 

 under otherwise approximately equal condi- 

 tions, a bottomless chamber of galvanized iron 

 was constructed, and allowed to rest on a 

 metal bench covered with a layer of moist 

 sand. This dark chamber was placed in such 

 position that the sun's rays did not strike it, 

 and was attached to a simple pulley, by 

 which it might be raised and lowered to allow 

 an occasional examination of the plants. 



Awakening plants with corms five centime- 

 ters long, when placed in this chamber, 

 showed a greatly exaggerated development 

 of the bud scales, a rapid elongation of the 

 scapes and petioles attaining a length near- 

 ly double the normal in five to eight days. 

 The daily increase of these organs in some 

 instances amounted to twelve centimeters. 

 The laminae sometimes were carried com- 

 pletely or almost completely through the un- 

 folding stage, but were rarely able to attain 

 a full extension, or area, much in excess of the 

 folded condition, and owing to the absence of 

 the directive influence of light, assumed var- 

 ious positions with respect to the horizontal. 

 Effect of ^Yie process of decay did not begin until fifteen 



to twenty days after the beginning of the ex- 

 periments, and if the plants, after unfolding. 



darkness 



