1 70 On the Natural History of Vegetables. 



from which they have proceeded: those located in or upon 

 the ground soon strike root ; others in the air protrude roots 

 also, which are fitted for their situation by their indurated 

 texture and strength : the air plant and banyan tree are in- 

 stances ; and not only of the principle and origin of roots, the 

 roots being dispersed so far over the tree, but also, wherever 

 existent, their natural tendency is towards the earth. 



It has already been noticed, that the fibrils on the roots of 

 trees, shrubs, and strong-rooted perennial plants, are annual 

 productions, or at least only in action during the growth of 

 the plant : but in other individual-stemmed perennials, as the 

 tulip, the roots as well as the fibrils, like the leaves and stem, 

 are annual ; that is, they are produced from the radical crown, 

 on which are seated the abbreviated leaves, future stem, flower, 

 and fruit, which compose the bulb ; and when these last are 

 perfected, the whole, w^itli the roots also, perish, and are suc- 

 ceeded by a new crown, bulb, &c. 



The different ways which nature has assigned for the per- 

 petuation of the radical crown, have given rise to distinguishing 

 characters of roots; viz. the fibrous, as in wheat; the bulbous, 

 as in the tulip ; the tuberous, as in the potato ; the globular, 

 as in the turnip ; the truncated, handed, beaded, &c., all which 

 are appendages of roots, rather than roots themselves ; and in 

 fact are only motations, or provisional efforts, of the crown for 

 multiplying or protecting itself. 



Although the crown may be only deemed as one of the 

 essentials of a plant, and that it only performs, in connection 

 with the others, its part of the vegetable economy; yet it is 

 necessary to remark that it has special powers possessed by 

 no other organ, except the seed, which is the essence of all. 

 As proof of this, we may observe, that, if the crown be so 

 placed as that it has not a suitable share of the necessary 

 elements for its natural developement, it will produce lateral 

 progeny from itself, without assistance from any other organ ; 

 witness the production of young tubers in a pit, or young bulbs 

 in a drawer of the seed-room. 



Such is the natural history of the Root : it is divested of 

 almost every term of science, but it is hoped it will not be the 

 less intelligible, by being described in the language of a prac- 

 tical man. The student may easily apply the proper terms, 

 when so far initiated in the study, as the foregoing may lead 

 him; and, as some other papers on the same subject, and 

 couched in the same style, will follow, it is presumed they will 

 not be altogether unworthy of the young reader's notice. 



Mentor. 



Fehmary^ 1829. 



