I900-I.] 



Effects of Water on Foliage Leaves. 



289. 



H. 



From these experiments certain conclusions may be drawn, an 

 investigation into which would throw some light, not only upon the 

 absorption of non-poisonous dilute solutions, but also upon the question 

 of water-absorption. The plants best suited to this foliage culture are 

 those whose leaves are adapted to moist conditions, and those whose 

 roots are fibrous and numerous. Those having tap-roots will draw upon 

 the food stored in the tap-root, defeating, to some extent, the results of 

 the experiments. If plants can utilize food solutions applied to their 

 leaf surfaces, it may be that rain-water, after a period of dry weather 

 more or less prolonged, falling upon leaves, aids directly in nourishing 

 the plants. Galloway and Woods have shown that lime-water used as a 

 spray acts as a food, or at least produces a growth distinctly above the 

 normal. It is now known that the bordeaux mixture causes an increase 

 in growth by supplying food, or by action in the nature of a stimulus. 



The nutrient solution applied to the leaves produced a substantial 

 increase in growth, indicating that the solution was absorbed, or that it 

 acted as a stimulus, or both. The conclusions in regard to growth are 

 based upon : — (i) large increase in number of leaves and in total leaf 

 area, (2) increase in length of stem, (3) the production of flowers, coupled 



