LUTHER BURBANK 



was forced upon them by the exigencies of cli- 

 mate. And indeed, there is no reason to doubt 

 that such was really the origin of the habit of 

 winter rest. We have had at least one illustra- 

 tion, in the case of the winter rhubarb, of the 

 readiness with which a plant resumes the habit 

 of perennial activity. 



We suggested in that connection that peren- 

 nial growth is the normal and primitive habit of 

 the plant; and there is no occasion to modify that 

 suggestion. 



But even though the winter sleep of the plant 

 was forced upon it, there is reason to believe that 

 the habit thus inculcated is of great utility in con- 

 serving the energies of the plant and promoting 

 its vital efficiency. 



The experiments that justify this conclusion 

 have been made in recent years by a number of 

 different botanists, and they have conclusively 

 demonstrated that it is quite the rule for a plant 

 to develop exceptional powers of growth imme- 

 diately after it comes out of a period of dormancy 

 induced artificially. 



Plants narcotized with the fumes of ether or 

 chloroform, for example, are rendered quite in- 

 capable of growth while subjected to the fumes. 



They are seemingly stupefied and their condi- 

 tion of dormancy or lack of vital activity is curi- 



[18] 



