348 



EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANTS 



In making these observations, it will probably be 

 noticed that many flowers grow toward the light and 

 place themselves so as to receive it as directly as pos- 

 sible. This has a useful purpose in making them much 

 more conspicuous to insects. See page 298. 



WIND. Every one is more or less familiar with the 



201. The effect of wind on the growth of a tree trunk. 



effects of wind on plants. Near the seacoast, or on 

 mountains, or wherever trees are exposed daily to 

 strong wind, they show by their bent forms and curi- 

 ous shapes its potent influence (Fig. 201) . The dying 

 of the branches on the windward side (Fig. 202) is 

 due to the drying effect of the wind, which may in- 

 crease transpiration as much as twentyfold (see page 

 208). Even moist winds may have a drying effect. 

 It is interesting to observe how the one-sided develop- 

 ment of leaves and branches affects the stem. This is 



