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STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Fig. 12. Seedling pea stilted up on roots as it be- 

 haves on coarse wet sand. a. remains of the seed, c. 

 tip of the first root The root-hairs lifted up a few 

 small stones which stuck fast. 



These tender things are the 

 feeders of the roots and find their 

 way into every nook and cranny, 

 sticking to the sand, gathering in 

 water and other stuff useful in 

 helping to nourish the plant. If 

 a root or its branch does not suc- 

 ceed in entering the soil, it soon 

 dies, but when once connected 

 with good, moist soil, it thrives 

 and enlarges and does much work 

 for the rest of the plaat. Uncov- 

 ered and exposed to dry air, even 

 for a few minutes, causes the root- 

 hairs to wilt and die, and none will ever appear in their places. 



The roots of beans kept on wet soil, behave much the same as roots of 

 peas, but the seed-leaves and main stem, how different! There is not only 

 one bow or arch in the stem below the seed-leaves, but often two of them. 

 Children, young or older, may be questioned as to the various uses of 

 the beans and peas, not overlooking the fact that the main object of the 

 production of seeds is to grow more plants to produce more seeds and thus 

 keep up the stock for many generations. 



If so disposed, numerous experiments can be tried with profit; such as 

 cutting off all of one seed-leaf, before or after sprouting, and see what fol- 

 lows. Split some beans and peas and see if each half can be made to 

 grow. Cut off the stem that comes out between or above the seed-leaves 

 of the bean or pea, and see one or more branches appear below to take its 

 place. After it gets pretty well rooted, cut off the stem of a bean-plant 

 below the seed-leaves and give it good care and wait to see if buds can be 

 made to appear. Beans may be pushed into damp soil but little below the 

 surface, some with one end up, some the other end up, some with the seed- 

 scar or eye-edge up, some with the seed-scar below, and see how they 

 behave. 



The hints given in this short bulletin by no means exhaust the subject, 

 for there is enough remaining to occupy the entire time of the best bota- 

 nist continuously for many weeks. 



