CHAPTER IV 



THE WORK OF LEAVES 



WE have become familiar with the seed-leaves, or 

 first leaves of the plant. We have learned something 

 about their general appearance and structure; the 

 question may now be raised, Of what use are the seed- 

 leaves? Remove the seed-leaves from a number of 

 plants (Fig. 99) about an inch 

 high (growing in pots or boxes of 

 earth) , and mark them by loops 

 of colored twine ; mark a number 

 of uninjured plants of the same 

 size with white twine, to serve 

 as controls. Vary the experiment 

 by removing the seed-leaves 

 from the soaked seeds before 

 they- are planted; from some 

 remove one, from others both 

 seed-leaves. Place them on the 

 surface of moist earth in a pan, 

 and cover with a glass. Does 

 the removal of the seed-leaves 

 check the growth of the plant? 



(163) 



99. Two Scarlet Runner Beans 

 of the same age, from one of 

 which the seed-leaves were re- 

 moved shortly after germina- 

 tion. 



