62 THE ROOT. 



country. Thus, the cocoa, and the cashew-nut, and the seeds of the mahogany, 

 have heen known to perfonn long voyages, without injui-y to their \-itality. Squir- 

 rels, laying up their winter stores in the earth, birds, migrating from cUme to 

 clime, and from island to island, in like manner conspire to eifect the same im- 

 portant end. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE ROOT. 



136. The koot is the basis of the plant, and the principal 

 source of its nourisliment. It originates with the radicle of the 

 seed ; the tendency of its growth is downwards, and it is gener- 

 ally immersed in the soil. 



a. When the radicle has hurst the integuments of the seed, and penetrated the 

 soil, its body becomes divided into branches, or fibres; each of these is again 

 divided and sub-divided into fibres, often exceedingly numerous and minute, ever 

 extending and multiplying, until the vegetable has attained its full gi-owth. 



137. The prone direction of the root is accounted for by the extreme deUcacy 

 of the fibres, which renders them averse to the ah- and light, by their avidity for 

 moisture, and by the cff'ects of gravitation. 



a. Although the primary direction of the roots is downward, they are not 

 kno\vn to extend to any great depth. After having descended to a certain dis- 

 tance beneath the surface, they extend themselves horizontally, keeping at about a 

 uniform depth, however great the iiregularities of the surface. 



138. The number and extent of the roots must always coiTcspond to the 

 demands of the vegetable, both for affording it nourishment, and for maintaining 

 it in its erect position. It follows, therefore, that for every expanding leaf, or 

 extending t^^^g, there must be a con-esponding increment of the roots and fibres 

 beneath the soil. 



139. Eoots are generally distinguished from stems by their 

 downward direction, by the presence of absorbing fibres, by the 

 constantly irregular arrangement of their branches, and by the 

 absence of buds, stomata, and pith. 



140. To all these characteristics there arc, howevei-, exceptions. Thus, buds in 

 peculiar circumstances, are developed by the roots, sending up shoots, or suckers, 

 around the parent stem. This does not happen in the natural or healthy state 

 of the plant, but only when the life of the upper axis is partially or wholly 

 destroyed, the roots remaining in full vigor, and elaborating more nourishment 



