Science: Alcoholic Leaves

Many a poet has been tempted and won by the obvious comparison of an "expensive" or "four-bottle" nose with the glorious ruddy hues of autumn foliage. Last week Science stripped the thought of its poesy by proclaiming that the similitude has a chemical basis. Alcohol, announced Chemist S. G. Hibben of the Westinghouse Lamp Co., is produced in leaves by a fermentation that sets in when plants reach a cycle of life during which they reject sunlight regardless of the weather.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!