24 Absorption of Water by the Leaves of Plants. (January, 
4. Leaves floating on water—It was found that one part of a 
leaf can nourish another part for various periods, though the 
edges out of water died first. 
5. Absorption of dew—A long series of cut leaves and shoots 
were gathered at 4 P. M., then exposed to sun and wind for three 
hours, then carefully weighed and exposed all night to dew. At- 
7.30 A. M., after having been dried, they were weighed again, and 
all had gained weight, and quite recovered their freshness, 
proving that slightly wetted detached portions do absorb dew.. 
6. Imi tation dew.— Like results followed from using the 
“spray,” by which dew could be exactly imitated. 
7. Plants growing in pots, and of which the earth was not 
watered, were kept alive by the ends of one or more shoots being 
placed in water; eg., Mimulus moschatus not only grew vigor- 
ously and developed auxiliary buds into shoots, but also blos- 
somed. 
By these interesting experiments the physiological botanist is 
again placed in harmony with the gardener who syringes his 
plants not merely for the purpose of washing off dust and insects, 
è 
$ 
i 
but in order to facilitate the actual absorption of water by the sur- 
face; and with the field botanist who sprinkles ‘the plants in his 
vasculum with water to keep them fresh till he reaches home. 
Mr. Henslow concludes with the following hints as to preparing 
bouquets of cut flowers : : 
If some plants have buds upon them, let the stalks long, and allow 
a few leaves to remain on and be also immersed in the water, and 
the buds will then be often found to expand successively. The cut 
end, to be more absorbent than it otherwise would be, should be 
again cut off under water. Ifthe blossoms be ona ligneous stem, as 
of lilac, then the loss of water by evaporation is greater than the 
woody stalk can supply, so that in this case the addition of leaves _ 
in the water will greatly aid, and retain the bunch of flowers fresh 
for a longer time. On the other hand, if a blossom be already 
about to shed its petals, then the additional supply of water fur- 
nished by the leaves on the stalk appears to hasten the coming dis- 
solution, and the flower perishes rather sooner than it would other- 
= wise do. The water must be changed every day, and the sub- © 
merged leaves must be lightly wiped with a cloth, as by endos- 
= motic action they soon become more or less coated with mucus. 
No leaves must be in water unless perfectly green and of vigorous 
growth. 
