EXERCISE 36 



THE USE MADE OF STORED FOOD 

 Materials. Mature turnips, carrots, parsnips, or beets. 



Directions for work. Plant several turnips or other thickened 

 roots in the garden in the spring, allowing them to grow until 

 they " go to seed." Note the rapidity with which the first 

 leaves and the erect stem are formed, compared with the rate 

 of growth from seed. 



When the plants have set seed, dig up one and cut open the 

 root. Has it remained firm ? Make the usual food tests. Does it 

 contain as large an amount of food as when planted ? Examine 

 several other roots to see whether the facts you find in one are 

 characteristic of all. 



In autumn it is usually possible to find in gardens old 

 radishes which have produced seed as well as many younger 

 radishes. It is then possible to make the above study by direct 

 comparison, without growing the plants. 



On the basis of the above study do you find that the stored 

 food may be used by plants ? If so, for what purpose ? 



References 



BERGEN and CALDWELL. Practical Botany, pp. 33-35. 

 BERGEN and CALDWELL. Introduction to Botany, pp. 43-46. 



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