Extension Work in Horticulture. 



559 



of the plant itself. We must notice, too, that these leaves are 

 much smaller when they are first drawn out of the seed than 

 they are when the plantlet has straightened itself up. Thajt is, 

 these leaves increase very much in size after they reach»the 

 light and air. The roots of the plantlet are now established 

 in the soil and are taking in food w^hich enables the plant to 

 grow. The next leaves which appear will be very different from 

 these first or seed leaves. 



These later ones are called the true leaves. They grow right 

 out of the little plant itself. Fig. 11 shows these true leaves 

 as they appear on a young Crookneck squash plant, and the 

 plant now begins to look much like a squash vine. 



13. The root thrown in tlie end 

 portions. 



14. The marJiinff of the stem, and the spreading 

 apart of the marks. 



We are now curious to know how the stem grows when it 

 backs out of the seeds and pulls the little seed-leaves with it, 

 and how the root grows downwards into the soil. Now let us 

 pull up another seed when it has sent a single root about two 

 inches deep into the earth. We will wash it very carefully and 

 lay it upon a piece of paper. Then we will lay a ruler along- 

 side of it, and make an ink mark one-quarter of an inch from the 

 tip, and two or three other marks at equal distances above 

 (Fig. 12).* We will now carefully replant the seed. Two days 



*Note. — Common ink will not answer for this purpose because it " runs " 

 when the root is wet, but indelible ink, used for marking linen or for 

 drawing, should be used. It should also be said that the root of the 

 common pumpkin, and of the summer bush sciuashes, is too fibrous and 

 branchy for this test. It should be stated, also, that the root does not 

 grow at its veiy tip, but chiefly in a narrow zone just back of the tip; 

 but the determination of this point is rather too difficult for the be- 

 ginner. 



