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GLOSSARY. 



Acid. (Latin, acidun, sour). The name given to a 

 large series of substances, which possess, amongst 

 other properties (1) a sharp taste, (2) the power 

 to turn moist blue litmus- paper red, and (3) to 

 cause carbonates (such as lime or soda) to bubble 

 up and give off carbon dioxide. Vinegar is an 

 example of an acid. 



Albumen. The Latin word for the white of an egg. 

 Used botanically for a reserve of plant food 

 contained in the seed. See foot note, page 4. 



Alkaline. (Arabic, al, the ; kali, ashes of a plant, 

 'glass-wort'). The opposites of acids ; substances 

 which turn moist red litmus-paper blue, and have 

 as a rule a peculiar burning taste. Slaked 

 lime, and caustic potash are common examples. 



Analysis. (Greek, analusis, a loosing or breaking up). 

 The separation of a substance into the various 

 parts of which it is composed. 



Apex. The Latin for summit. The growing point 

 of a stem or root, and the free end of a leaf. 



Assimilation. (Latin, assimulatio, a making like). 

 Used to denote the process by which the raw 

 food of a plant is changed into plant substance. 

 The term is often confined to the formation of 

 starch and other substances from water and 

 carbon dioxide in sunlight by plants containing 

 chlorophyll. 



Bacteria. (Greek, bakterion, a small stick or 

 staff). Minute forms of plant life, commonly 

 spoken of as germs and microbes. The decay 

 of animal and vegetable matters is largely 

 brought about by bacteria. 



Berry. (Latin, />mva, aberry). A fruit which consists 

 of a thin outer skin, and a pulpy interior in 



