PRODUCTIVE GARDENING 87 



ordinary green leaf of tree or shrub or vine 

 or the tiniest blade of grass — as in some 

 respects the most wonderful thing in the 

 world. 



When the wise plant developer goes into his 

 garden or orchard, therefore, his eyes turn 

 always first and foremost to the leaves of the 

 plants with which he works. 



The reader will perhaps recollect that over 

 and over I have called attention to the predic- 

 tions that may be made as to the future fruiting 

 powers of a given plant — apple seedling or pear 

 seedling or grape seedling or what not — from 

 observation of the leaves. The reason for this 

 will now perhaps be more apparent. It will be 

 still more clearly evident if we inquire a little 

 more in detail as to the exact processes that take 

 place within the structure of the leaf laboratory 

 in which is brought about the all-essential manu- 

 facture of food on which the future growth of 

 the plant itself and its fruiting possibilities must 

 absolutely depend. 



No one needs to be told that all normal leaves 

 are green in color. But perhaps it may not have 

 occurred to you what a really remarkable fact this 

 is. The trunks and branches and roots of plants 

 may vary widely in color ; and flowers and fruits 

 may show all diversities of the rainbow. But from 



