LIGHT AND THE PLANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16344, 26 September 1916, Page 9

LIGHT AND THE PLANT.

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE LECTURE. A very interesting lecture, entitled "Light and the Plant," was delivered last evening before members of the Auckland Institute by Professor J, C. Johnson, ot the Auckland University. The lecturer was introduced by Professor Segar, who remarked that the matters dealt with by Professor Johnson were now the subject of research at the Auckland University. In the first part of his lecture Professor Johnson dealt with our native bush, and said that in the apparent peace of the bush a violent struggle for existence was going on among the plants and trees, as among the animals which inhabited the forest. They struggled not only for food hut more especially for light. He pointed out that it is the red light in the sun's rays which is necessary to the plant, and in' referring to the light under the sea showed that plants growing where light could scarcely penetrate were of a red colour. The lecture was illustrated by a 'number of interesting lantern slides, showin" how plants grew into position, so that they might receive the necessary amount | of light, and also how leaves we.ro always 'arranged so as to receive a maximum I amount of daylight.