62 



Let us now direct our attention to the root of the beet. Removing- the 

 earth carefully, we find that there is one well developed root pushing- 

 straight downward into the soil, and that smaller roots are sent out from 

 it in two side rows. We notice also that for some distance below the sur- 

 face of the soil the main root is smooth, and free from these smaller rootlets. 

 How is it that so very little of the fleshy root of the beet appears above the 

 surface of the soil? In reply to this question, we would ask you to 

 observe the great length of these rootlets. "It has been frequently found 

 that drains four and five feet below the surface of the soil have been 

 blocked by them." As the rootlets develop, therefore, they exert a 

 downward force upon the bulb, and this force tends to draw the bulb 

 into the soil. 



Conditions being favorable, the beet plant grows quickly. The main 

 root thickens rapidly for a time; then we observe a less marked increase 

 in size, and finally we can detect little, if any, development in this 

 direction. During its development, small sacs, or cells, are formed within 

 the root. These cells act as store-houses for the food material of the plant. 

 Let us again observe the leaves. The first thmg that attracts our 

 attention is the color of the leaf. Have you ever thought of the cause of 



this shade in the leaves 

 of growing plants? It is 

 due to the presence of a 

 certain green substance 

 known as chloroplivll. 

 This big word has been 

 made up from two Greek 

 words that simply mean 

 "leaf green." This chlor- 

 ophyll plays a very im- 

 portant part in the life- 

 story of sugar. The par- 

 ticular use of this green 

 matter is to change the 

 raw material into plant 

 food. One of the chief 

 materials of plant food is 

 carbonic acid gas. This 

 gas comes from the lungs 

 of animals. All living 

 creatures are continually 



-Shows the stem sent up from the crown of the beet. Second breathing OUt Carbonic 



from their h 



Fig. 85.- , 



year of growth. The flower of the beet (in upper corner on right.) aCld 



The ovary cut down through tiie centre (in lower corner in right. ) t^, • • • ^ . 



This gas is poisonous to 

 man, but is an essential food of plants. Without this food, the plant 

 could store up no sugar, nor could it even live. 



Carbonic acid gas passes into the leaves of the plant through small 

 openings situated on the underside of the leaves. Large quantities of 

 this gas are taken in by the leaves of the beet plant. This gas under 

 the influence of chlorophyll is made to unite with water, and thus form a 

 compound from which sugar is ultimately derived. After the sugar has 



