Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-05-19
MlfRHIHG LESSONS
N PLANT PRODUCTION


y SHOW that plants absorb mots
tuse from the soil, take two 1-quarg
TIN cans as near alike a. you can go
them and punch holes in the bot
toms for drainage.
Secure enough garden soil to I'll
both cans, mix it thoroughly, and sif
It to remove pebbles and clods. Ell
both cans level full of loose soil
which should then be packed by jarr
Ing each can three times on the Ia
be or floor.
It is important to have the sol
packed alike in both cans. Weigh
the fllsd cans, and II one 10 heavier
than tho other. take out enough soil
70 bring them to the same weight.
Plant five or six kernels Of corn In
one can, water both cans alike, and
set them aside for the corn to grow.
Whenever water is applied to the
can containing corn, an equal amount
should DO applied to the other can
In order to keep both soils in about
the same physical condition.
When tho corn Is TIRES or four in
ches high, wet both soils thoroughly
allow the cans to stand until water
ceases to drip from the bottom,
weigh them, and record their weights
separately. Set both cans IN warm
light place where the corn Will con-
tinue to grow rapidly.
Weigh the cans twice On the fol-
lowing dsy-morning and afternoon
and record the weights. Keep this
up for three or four days, or until
the corn begins to suffer from lack
Of moisture Water again and con
tinue az before.
You VIII probably find that the can
containing the growing plants loses
moisture much more rapidly than the
other.
This experiment may be performed
in another way by using flower pots
instead of tin cans. When the eoTu
Is three or four inches high, get tive
lara pails Or cans Just lsxfs enough
to take in The pets to their rims,
Mark On the outside Of tho pals the
depth to which the pots will extend
on the inside, and at a point ono inch
above each mark make dent which
can be distinctly seen on tho inside
OF the pail.
Now fill each pail with water up to
the dent, water both pots thoroughly
and set them IN the pals as shown In
tde figure.
Set both pals and pots in q warm
light place 80 that the corn will ccn-
tinue 70 GROW.
The next day remove the pots and
you will find that the water IL ncl
up to the dents, you will conclude
and naturally, that the soil has taksr
up the xateT.
From an eight ounce graduate pou'
into one pail just enough watW II
bring It up to the dent again, Makt
a record Of the amount necsssasy IA
do this. Fill the graduate and brtnl
the water In the other pail up to ~
dent.
Repeat thsss operations daily to1
Two or three wseks and yoa viz b
able to find out exactly how ppel
moisture the growing plant seseTas.
In order to show that pasnts Siy'
en moisture, Take plant thSk Is wei
started Ia q tAnote e4n or flower pot
a piece Of cardboard, and glasl
tumbler large enough TO cover tbs
1lans, cut 1 slit in the cardboard aRs
draw It sfeaud the plant. seal tAl
slit with pitch, wax, or tallo~, 81
that 10 moisture can come vi
through It from below; cover th'
plant with the glass and set Il in ;
warm, sunny place. Moisture vii
condense on the inner surface Of tn
glass,
II moiss nre does not condense read
lily inside III glass, cool the glass b.
exposing i to . eurTent Of cold air o
BY wrapping Il for q minute or tv!
IN 2 CLOTH wrung out OF cold water
The outside Of the glass shoul'
then b 4zts1 80 ths moisture "a n
ontsids WI hst 1bscsfe that yittar
That wafer AbsosbAd by th
roots Of plants - forced ppWar'
thHouSh tho piant can bs demon
strstA4 BY ssYerlus the stem e< = ~
an4um three Or four inches from u
surface ss the sou, setting on ta2 Q
the cut nd n ils stsn a seesnp .
glass tahanS ssFaeel inches ioue. n!
fsstsu4us Dc we tessthsr N Hstr
ping TIE toans HalA Z strip Of AdhssR'
tape Of surgeons plaster.
Keep IT, root Of the plant norma
by supplying it with water. Not
Whist happens inside the glass txhi
making obsegFations every few hou1
70 shoW that water and vhaASss
substance Il holds In solution ctreu
late to iii parts Of the plant, ~
tumblsr sbost oas- third full Of lyt4
warm water eoiored with 4 fe1
drops Of red tpk pr some other bril-
Lap eeassans mater, and p.aes 4
eosorsd wAass ~ freshly cut stem
Of white carnations, wpits ross
4ihS ot ~ ykfsy, Or btasr whit
AEess. Il thA twaSs Of frees Wit
young iaavss On, OF almost my so4
green plant.
bs 3Ars that they are fresh. In
shoH lime the eolorsd water will ris
Ghral6A The stems OF twiss and ma,
b Len distributing In vsan4iks pal
Tn heeyph tho petals Of tho flower
q thf4h5b the tea1ss.
Had U leaves up to the light am
ths cploE3ng matter can be seen NOR
SIeal1s.
ID. thls manner the steam Of tn
fplaM &sr4ss food IN solution Whicl
NJ BEEN absorbed By thS roots.
lnnllF Tulrlv If1urn