THE FOOD OF THE PLANT 3 



this some method of tackUng the problem must be 

 evolved. Next, all observations made should be care- 

 fully recorded. Lastly, the facts gathered from the 

 observations must be set down in order. 

 These steps may be written thus : 



Step 1. What it was desired to find out. 



Step 2. What was done. 



Step 3. What was seen. 



Step 4. What was learnt. 



Or, expressed more briefly : 



Step 1. Aim. 



Step 2. Method. 



Step 3. Observations, 



Step 4. Inferences. 



Experiment 1 



Aim. — To determine whether a plant absorbs water. 



Method. — A bean seedling or a daffodil bulb is grown 

 in a jar of water. The surface of the water is covered 

 with greased cardboard or tin-foil, to prevent loss 

 through evaporation. The level of the water is marked. 



Observation. — As the plant grows the water gradually 

 decreases. 



Inference. — Water must have been taken up by the 

 roots that are in it. Thus : The root of a plant absorbs 

 water. 



Experiment 2 



Aim. — To determine whether parts of the plant, 

 other than the roots, can absorb water. 



Method. — Three well-grown bean seedlings or other 

 small potted plants are used. The first is watered 

 regularly in the usual way. The leaves and stem only 

 of the second plant are watered ; to this end the whole 

 of the pot as well as the soil should be carefully covered 

 with tin-foil during the process of watering ; the tin-foil 

 must be removed between the periods of watering, 



