Education through Nature 



Expose it to the salt and snow mixture. The water 

 turns to ice. Possibly the vial is cracked. What has 

 happened? (g) Take two fresh leaves; suspend one 

 close to the flame. What difference can soon be dis- 

 covered between the two leaves? (h) Take two fresh 

 leaves. Place one in a tumbler of water. After a 

 while, a day or so, what difference can be observed 

 in the two leaves? What has happened to the one 

 exposed to the air ? Account for it. 



VI. On Absorption, (a) Take a strip of blotting 

 paper and a piece of common writing paper; put 

 upon each a drop of ink. What is the difference in 

 effect? Allow both to dry; compare the size of the 

 two blots. Account for the difference. (6) Take a 

 tumbler filled within half an inch with water; put 

 into the tumbler a small dry sponge and allow to 

 soak. Remove the sponge. What changes have been 

 produced in the sponge? in the amount of water in 

 the tumbler? Account for the increased size of the 

 sponge and for the diminution in the water in the glass. 

 (c) Take the withered leaf; place it into the tumbler 

 of water. After a while, what changes have been 

 produced in the leaf? What connection between this 

 and the sponge? (d) Put beans into a tumbler of 

 water. What are the results? 



VII. On the Effects of Surface Exposure, (a) Soak 

 two handkerchiefs in water; leave one folded together, 

 but spread the other out. After an hour or so, notice 

 which is dryest. Account for it. (6) Soak the sponge 

 and the handkerchief. Expose both to the air for 

 some time, leaving the handkerchief rolled up in a 

 tight ball. After an hour or so, which can be seen 

 to have dried more quickly? Which took up water 

 most readily, and which gave it off most readily? 

 Account for the difference. 



What would be the advantage to a plant of small 

 compact leaves ? of large porous leaves ? Under 



