PROBLEMS IN BOTANY 



EXERCISE 1 

 PLANTS AND WATER 



Materials. Several potted plants of coleus or anything else that is 

 rather delicate. The plants used should be as nearly alike in size 

 and general appearance as possible. 



Directions for work. Place all of the plants in a warm, dry, 

 light place. Water one half of them freely, but do not water 

 the remainder during the experiment. 



Examine the plants daily. After several days, or possibly 

 within one day, differences in the appearance and behavior of 

 the two lots of plants may be seen. 



State on paper what differences between the plants you see. 

 What explanation can you offer for the change which has 

 occurred in one lot of plants ? What reasons have you for 

 this explanation ? Is there any way in which you can test the 

 accuracy of your explanation ? 



Make a list of all the questions which come into your mind 

 as a result of this experiment, and preserve this list for further 

 use as you continue the study of the relation of water to plants. 



Notes. It is usually desirable to make a written record of 

 any laboratory study. Such a record may be brief; it must be 

 accurate. It should be written in good English and with as 

 much care as a theme in the English class. If the exercise is 

 an experiment, as this one is, there will be three parts to the 

 composition, as suggested below, and each of the parts will 

 commonly appear as a separate paragraph. Write notes on this 

 exercise according to the following suggestions : 



