Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-08-14


It certainly is required for the 80
latlon OF other food substances,
as well as for maintaining the
proper physical condition 81 the
tissues. But there are few per
sens who have any adequate idea
Of the vast amount OF water which =
absorbed by plants from the soil. Even
those whose business Is 10 teach MnAt
is called Botany In the schools rare
~ know what plants do In tnss rs
spect; and the same may be- saia o.
those whose business Is 10 grow plants.
to cultivate them, 10 manage soil and
surroundings so as to obtain the best
results for the labor bestowed, Ihe
facts are remarkable. and may we'll
astonish all who become acquainted
with them. Believing that sueh as
quaintance may be valuable 20 some
who may here gain an introduction.
the writer takes pleasure ~ perform
ing the ceremony In the first place, !
may be stated that leaves IN the otat-
nary health state absorb little or no
water from the air. There has been
much difference OF opinion upon this
point, and even scientists haze noa
agreed upon il. Gardeners sprinkle
the leafy portions Of plants VITA
water. and say that the revival WHICH
takes place In whiting leaves proves AZ
once that the water Is absorbed. SOL
unfrequently the statement u made
that field plants tsIch as uiaiEel revive
AZ night by absorbing through the
leaves and stems the dew which - d.
posted upon them. Certainly Wistsd
plants do recover their fresh and
healthful appearance when cppiotisiy
showered with water. though not =
drop reaches the roofs. Certainly q
field OF corn In dry time presents a
conspicuous enough difference Of ap.
pea.ance in the middle Of hot after
noon and the early morning after a
dewey night. But do these things and
others like them show that leaves alb
sorb water? A little attention will
show that they do not. IL the florist
Will take a plant whose leaves have
begun TO droop on account Of The want
Of water. and will place 1t under a
glass vessel. be may soon see that.
without the addition OF water at all.
the leaves become plump and assume
their proper positions. as when copl-
ousiy sprinkIed. what can b. the
meaning Of thisg After i little Tins
water may be observed cundenslng
upon the inner surfaces of the gtass,
in dewlike drops. The air Within the
vessel becomes saturated with nois-
ture from some source, while the
dropping leaves are regainIng their
turgidty. The fact Is. that even from
these wilted leaves. while In the open
air, large quantities of water are ~
Gaping. II by any means this amount
Is checked, the continuous supply from
the roots soon fills the ieaf-ceila ana
restores their heaithfuI condition.
When the plant IA sh0wered with
water. this i exactly what takes place.
II Is true, experiments have proved
that leaves may and do absorb water
abundantly, when they are immersed
in the fluid. and Il - also pr0bahly true
that some water may ID absorbed ~
wIlted leaves fro II drops alhgriae ID
their surfaces; but SO far as CONCERNS
the great and useful supply of water
70 healthy vegetation. We may unhes.
itatsngly conclude that leaves have
nothing 10 do with ia absorptton
None nf II GENES directly from the ali
Atmospheric dew does not Gain an
trance to the tissues the soft fur.
nishes the water, and the roots take
it up. There Is no other source nor
other organs for the work. II the
roots send up as much or more than
the leaves transpire. the latter con-
t'nue turgid: II not. they Witt. J.
Burrill.