CHAPTER VIII 



PLANTS AND SUNLIGHT 



C8. Sufficient light. 



98. EACH PLANT LOOKS FOR LIGHT. Green plants live 

 and grow only in sunlight. The gradual withdrawal of 

 light tends to weaken the plant ; but the plant makes an 



effort to reach the light and there- 

 fore grows towards it. The whole 

 habit of a plant may be changed by 

 its position with reference to sun- 

 light. Select two similar plants. 

 Place one near the window and 

 the other far from it. Watch the 

 behavior from day to day. Fig. 

 G8 shows a fern which grew near 

 the glass in a conservatory : Fig. 

 69 shows one which grew on the floor of a conservatory. 

 Fig. 69 also teaches another lesson, which is to be ex- 

 plained in another chapter (Chapter XXVI). 



99. Plants grow towards the light. The most vigor- 

 ous branches, as a rule, are those which receive most light. 

 Climb a tree and observe where the thriftiest shoots are; 

 or observe any bush. 



100. When plants or their 

 parts are not stiff or rigid, they 

 turn towards the light if the light 

 conns mostly from one direction. 

 The geraniums and fuchsias in 

 the window are turned around 

 occasionally so that they will grow 

 symmetrical. Plant radish in a 



(42) 



69. In need of light. 

 Same kind of fern as No. 68. 



