Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-10-13

Professor Whiting Of the Utah Univer'
sity, presents this week following papor'
botanical work Tor october.
We are all Of us more inclined to
~aich the leaves fall these hazy autumn
days, than to inquire why they iall. II
question on this subject were adj
dressed to the majority Of intelligent
people, the answer would probably be
10 the form Of an inquiry as to why they
should not tall; aud yet when We stop
10 think OF Il, the annual fall OF the
leaves is phenomenon which may well
demand our serious thought. Ia regard
to shedding their leaves. trees are di.
vided into two classes, those wnicn shed
their leaves annually, and those which
are evergreen. ln temperate climate
about the only evergreen plants arc the
members Of the pine iamily while 30
warm climates all Of the plants are
evergreen. In this. as IN all other mat.
tiers, the present conditions are the out.
growth Of the past Ocologists tell Us
that with the beginning OF the present
geological age, there was far less differ.
cncc between tropical aud polar climate
ihan at the present time.
As the northern regions became cold
In winter all growth was checked during
that season and the leaves, especially
the large leaves, became a decided Dc.
trimcnt TO the ire. during this season Of
quicsccnce. Nature at once set 10 work
- restore harmony, by adapting the
vegetable world 20 the new conditions.
Many trees unable to adapt themselves
to the change became extinct others
like the pines, by producing small tough
leaves were enabled TO retain a pcfcn.
NAL foliage, and still Others adapted
themselves to their surroundings by the
remarkable cxpcdicnt Of shedding their
foliage each tall. These are known to
botanists as dcciduous trees. The leaves.
In most cases, are not fudely torn from
the tree by the storms Of winter, but
the tree, by gradual preparation extend.
ing over several weeks, prepares Itself
10 lose IT, leaves without being dam
aged. The preparation consists IN first
with drawing into Us branches and
trunk most OF the valuable sap which
may be 10 the leaves aud then forming
layer or cofky cells ut the point where
the leaf Is TO break OF. These cells
prevent the loss OF sap which would
occur II the leaf were broken on with.
out this preparation, and when these
cells arc FULLY formed the leaf simply
drops of. thus reducing the area ui the
surface Of the Tree exposed TO the winds.
A number Of most interesting obscrvl-
tons Of leaves may be made by pupils
Of even primary grades. ! suggest
few Of these In the following questions,
4. Are the brilliant colofs oi leaves in
the tall due to the action Of ifost1
observe with great care before attempt.
ing TO answer this question.
,. Which arc the first trees 90 shed
their leavesp
J. DO the trees which Grst have leaves
In the spring shed their leaves earlier
than the othersf
4. Where facilities will permit. II Is a 4
most interesting and instructive expert.
ment to collect two or three pounds Of |
well dried autumn leaves and burn
them. aud carefully weigh the ashes,
then in The spring collect and dry
'cIuI1y well, same weight OF newly
formed leaves, burning them and weigh.
ing the ashes, TO see which will yield
the greater percentage OF mineral
matter.
5. Can you find any buds on the trees
nowi Will they open the iallf Do
you see any special protective cover
ingsp II you find any special coverings,
do they protect the bud from sudden
changes Of temperature or from mols'
ture, OF from bo,hP II from both, how
does tho protection from change OF
temperature differ from the protection
against water