48 



PRACTICAL COURSE IN BOTANY 



one next above it has formed ? When is growth most rapid ? Reverse the 

 position of a number of seedlings that have just begun to sprout and watch 

 what will happen. After a few days reverse again and note the effect. 



63 64 



FIGS. 63, 64. Root of bean seed- 

 ling, measured to show region of 

 growth : 63, early stage of germina- 

 tion ; 64, later stage. 



65 63 



FIGS. 65, 66. Stem of bean seedling, 

 measured to show region of growth : 65, 

 early stage of growth ; 66, later stage. 



EXPERIMENT 36. CAN PLANTS GROW AND LOSE WEIGHT AT THE SAME 



TIME ? Remove the scales from a white 

 lily bulb, weigh them, and lay in a warm, 

 but not too damp place, away from the 

 light. After a time bulblets will form at 

 the bases of the scales. Weigh them again, 

 and if there has been any loss, account 

 for it. The experiment may be tried by 

 allowing a potato tuber or a hyacinth bulb 

 to germinate without absorbing moisture 

 enough to affect its weight. 



EXPERIMENT 37. Is THE DIRECTION OF 



GROWTH A MATTER OF ANY IMPORTANCE ? 



Plant in a pot suspended as shown in 



67 68 Fig. 67, a healthy seedling of some kind, 



FIGS. 67, 68. Experiment show- two or three inches high, so that the 



ing the direction of growth in stems: plumu l e sha ll point downward through 

 67, young potato planted in an in- , . , 



verted position ; 68, the same after the dram nole and thc root upward into 



an interval of eight days. the soil. Watch the action of the stem 



