82 THE WORK OF PLANTS 
water for half an 
hour and test it again. It has re- 
gained its former firmness, as shown in Fig. 114. Can 

Fic. 114. Sunflower seedling 
taken from salt solution and 
placed in water. It becomes 
firm again. 
the plant foods are 
in the form of salts 
in the soil. If the 
salts are too abun- 
dant in the soil, the 
food solutions are 
take them up. In 
you account for the behaviour of 
the seedling under these conditions? 
How would it behave if we should 
immerse it in boiling water for a 
few moments? Why? Immerse it 
in aleohol for fifteen minutes. What 
effect has the alcohol had on it? 
Immerse a red beet slice in alcohol. 
Describe the results. 
Other plant parts may be treated 
in the same way, if it is desired 
to multiply these experiments. 
The effect of: too 
strong food solutions 
in the soil. Some of 

Fig. 115. Sunflower seedlings Fic. 116. Washing 
after salt solution was the salt out of the 
poured in soil. soil. 
so strong that the plant cannot 
fact, too strong solutions will draw 
