



HOW PLANTS GROW YEAR AFTER YEAR. 



witliering awav, which grew in spring by one of its buds to make the stem (h) bear- 

 ing tlie foliage of the season. This sends oat some branches under ground, v/hich 



GO in the course of the sea- 



son thicken at the end 

 as they receive a stock 

 of nourisliment prepared 

 by this year's foliage, 

 and become new tubers 

 (r, a forming one ; d, d, 

 Avell-grown tubers of the 

 season), to live over 

 winter and make the 

 next year's growth. 



75. Because they live 

 under ground, these tu- 

 bers are commonly su[>- 

 posed to be roots ; but 

 they are not, as any one 

 may see. Their eyes 

 are buds ; and the little 

 scales behind the eves 

 answer to leaves ; while 

 roots bear neither buds 

 nor leaves. The fibrous roots which grow from these subterranean branches are 

 xcry different in appearance from under-ground stems, as is plain to see in the 

 l^o!^ato-plant. Fig. CO shows 

 a few of the real roots, as 

 v,(,'il as several branches of 

 the stem, with potatoes form- 

 ing in all stages at their tips. 

 Fifr. CI is one of these form- 

 ing potatoes magnified, show- 

 ing a little scale behind each 

 eye which answers to a leaf. Fig. C2 is a part of a slice through an eye, more 

 magnified, to show that the eye is really a bud, covered with little scales. 



63 



Solomnu's-Seal. 



