CHANGES ACCOMPANYING BREAKING OF REST PERIOD 47 



the enzymes are. On the other hand, it is conceivable that such 

 specific portions of the protoplasm as the enzymes could be affected 

 directly by outside agencies. In other words in one case the treat- 

 ment may directly affect the seat of protoplasmic activity whatever 

 that may be which in turn influences all other parts; while in an- 

 other case, the treatment may indirectly affect the protoplasm by 

 first influencing some specific portion of its structure. 



The thought in the foregoing paragraph might be illustrated by 

 considering the complex wheels and cogs and other parts of a clock 

 as the protoplasmic structure. By winding the spring, energy is 

 stored up thru which the complex mechanism is set in motion. This 

 spring may be considered as the seat of protoplasmic activity which 

 brings about the movement of all other parts of the clock. The rate 

 at which this spring unwinds is determined by a pendulum. This 

 part may be regulated so the clock goes fast or slow. In this case, 

 we are affecting a specific portion of the mechanism directly, and as 

 a result of that effect the entire structure is, in turn, made to respond. 



All experiments seem to indicate that etherization and other 

 means of breaking the rest period intensify and hasten the normal 

 physiological processes. As a result, metabolic changes are carried 

 out in a much shorter time than under ordinary conditions. This 

 is shown especially and in a striking manner by the experiment in 

 which treated and untreated twigs were kept under water. This 

 phenomenon was exhibited by all the other experiments. 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



Summary. The existence of a rest period in plants has been 

 definitely established, together with the fact that the normal rest 

 in most plants may be shortened at will by certain treatments. 

 There has been much speculation as to the cause of the rest period 

 and particularly the specific effects of ether and other agents which 

 produce growth in dormant plants. 



Believing the beginning of the rest period, as well as the break- 

 ing of the rest, was in some manner associated with enzyme activity, 

 a series of respiration experiments was begun in 1913 and carried 

 on thru a part of the following year. It was known that anes- 

 thetics, mechanical injury, high temperatures and other agents 

 stimulate the respiratory processes in both growing and dormant 

 plants. The experiments conducted were for the purpose of securing 

 information on the following points: To determine the effects of 

 drying and freezing on CO2 production of dormant apple twigs; also 

 to determine the influence of the same dose of ether on COa produc- 



