Mar., 1921] BRANNON — METHOD FOR GROWING PLANTS 1 77 
and in figure i is shown one of the cultures. The nutrient solution con- 
tained 2 percent sucrose. 
The special advantage of this method is in the fact that the plants used 
will live and grow for a much longer period of time than by the other methods. 
Fig. I. Timothy grown for three weeks in the dark on Pfeffer's nutrient solution plus 2 
percent sucrose. 
It would seem, in the case of plants grown in the dark, that the sugars are 
either too slowly absorbed by the roots or that conduction of the sugars is 
too slow to satisfy the needs of the plant for organic matter. This idea has 
been suggested by Knudson and Lindstrom- in their work on albino corn. 
When a portion of the stem of the plant is also immersed, the stem probably 
absorbs sugars and so the needs of the plant are more nearly met. 
Another advantage over the agar method is the greater ease of analyzing 
2 Knudson, L., and Lindstrom, E. W. Influence of sugars on the growth of albino 
plants. Amer. Jour. Bot. 6: 401-405. 1919. 
