THE PLANT AND THE SEASONS 



86i 



a thick coating of ice and snow to the 

 hght and air above, when by some means, 

 of which we can form httle idea, the plant 

 is aware that the spring has arri\'ed. 

 There seems to be something more in the 

 phenomenon than can be explained as 

 mere mechanical cause and effect. Indeed, 

 the sympathy of the plant with the seasons 

 is surely one of those mysteries which are 

 as inscrutable as hfe itself. 



The spring is perhaps the most trying 

 time of the whole year for the plant. 

 Often enough the first few fine days which 

 have gi\'en promise of coming summer are 

 followed by rigorous conditions which 

 would more properly belong to the depths 

 of winter. Yet it is very rarely that any 

 serious damage results to the young 

 fohage, even if the dainty leaves have 

 already left the protection of the bud cases. 

 To examine the expanding shoots of the 

 Horse Chestnut, is to find that each leaf 

 is clothed with a downy substance which 

 forms a perfect protection against cold. 



In the case of a large number of plants 

 the fohage is not expanded until it is in 



an advanced stage ; leaves rolled up or 

 folded together are more hkely to escape 

 damage than those which are open. 

 Another curious phase in the early develop- 

 ment of the leaf is connected with the 

 colouring of the tissue. Very young 

 fohage is often of a reddish tint, a cir- 

 cumstance commonly to be seen in the 

 case of Sycamore and Maple shoots. 

 Crimson patches are also not infrequently 

 seen on the upper surfaces of Hazel leaves. 

 As well, the bud cases of many trees and 

 shoots take on a bright crimson shade in 

 the early part of the year. This is seen 

 to great advantage in the case of the 

 Lime trees. It is believed that this 

 colouring is a protective measure, brought 

 about to prevent an undue loss of heat. 

 It has indeed been proved that the purple 

 tinting on the under side of the Water 

 Lily leaf is due to the presence of a curious 

 pigment called anthocyanin, which has 

 the remarkable property of changing hght 

 into heat. By this means the chilling 

 influences of the water are controverted. 

 It is no hindrance to the enjoyment of 



tLm^ 



CHERRY LAURELS IN WINTER. 

 The droopinS of the foliage durinft frost is valuable as a protective measure. 



