FEB 16 190 



-8- 



much need from the air and have little breathing pores in 

 their leaves which are called stomata. These stomata are 

 the doors which allow the carbon dioxid of the air to come 

 into contact with the living cells of the plant. Here the 

 sunlight and the green of the leaves work together in a 

 way which is not easily explained and make a starch of 

 the carbon and the hydrogen and oxygen of the water which 

 has been absorbed. Since plants can only use very 

 much diluted food just think how many pounds of water 

 must pass through the leaves as vapor before a pound of 

 actual food has been received by the plant. If you wish 

 to see for yourselves this water vapor which the plant 

 gives off, cut off a leafy stem from a geranium say, and 

 put the stem down through a cork into a bottle of water. 

 (The hole may be bored through the cork so that it will 

 fit closely about the stem.) Then tip a glass jar over the 

 whole thing and before long you will see the water mist 

 all over the inside of the jar. 



QUESTIONS. 



1. What work does the soil do for plant life? 



2. How many different soils can you find in your own locality? 



3. In order to see what effect it will have on the seed, put a 

 potful of black soil in a shallow pan and bake it thoroughly. Plant 

 two or three beans in this soil after it is replaced in the pot. Plant 

 two or three beans in black soil unbaked. Watch germination of 

 each. 



4. Write 150 words telling how the soil is made. 



5. What is sandy soil? Clay? Loam? 



6. What is meant by ''fertilizers"? 



7. What machinery does the farmer use when he tills his field? 



SOME BOOKS FOR READING AND REFERENCE. 

 The Soil — Prof. King, University of Wisconsin. 

 How Crops Feed, How Crops Grow — Johnson. 

 The Soil— Nature Study Leaflet 15— Cornell University, Prof. 

 Tarr. 



