The First Book of Farming by Charles Landon Goodrich
page 131 of 307 (42%)
page 131 of 307 (42%)
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iodine. The leaf remains white, showing no starch. (Drawings by M.E.
Feltham.)] [Illustration: FIG. 63. To show that sunlight is necessary for starch-making by leaves. Leaf 7 had a paper label stuck to its upper surface a couple of hours while the plant was exposed to sunlight; 8 is the same leaf after the chlorophyl was taken out, and 9 represents it after treatment with iodine. The leaf turned purple in all parts except the part that was shaded by the label. Starch was removed from the portion under the label, but was not renewed because the label kept out the necessary sunlight. (Drawings by M.E. Feltham.)] [Illustration: FIG. 64. To show that chlorophyl is necessary for starch formation in the leaf. 10 is a variegated leaf from a silver-leaved geranium; the center is an irregular patch of green, with an irregular border of white. 11, after taking out the green. 12, after iodine treatment, the leaf turns purple only where it was originally green, showing that no starch forms in the white border. (Drawings by M.E. Feltham.)] Some leaves on the branch are larger than others because in the struggle for light and air they have had a better chance than the others or they have had more of the food which has come up from the root. Some of the leaves have developed longer stems than others in their effort to reach out after light and air. Most leaves have the little mouths through which air is taken in and |
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