HOW THE LIVING PLANT USES WATER 8] 
These escape and filter through into the water outside. 
In the case of the beet this is well shown by the behaviour 
of the red colourmg matter, which is also in 
the water, inside the tiny hving membrane. 





When the living beet slice 1s placed in cold 
water the red colourmg matter does not 
escape and colour the water. Nor 
does the salt solution pull : 
it out when we place the 
slice in salt water, al- = 
though someofthe water Fg : 
is pulled out. Butwhen = 
the beet slice is killed in 
hot water the red colour 4.12 bic co er derre ac: in Fig. 111 
escapes. 
How other plant parts behave in salt solution and in 
water. Pull up a sunflower seedling or some other 
plant. It is firm and rigid 
as we hold it in the hand, 
and the leaves stand out 
well, as shown in Fig. 111. 
Immerse the leaves and most 
of the stem in a five per cent 
salt solution for fifteen min- 
Cane «utes. Now hold. it in the 
eae ang hand. It is limp and flabby, 
as shown in Fig. 113. Immerse the seedling in fresh 

