ROOTS AND WATER 



may be compared to the ordinary branching above ground. 

 It is often not unlike the reflection in water of the tree 

 itself, such as one might see on a fine winter's day along the 

 shore of some still lake. 



2. The bold, exploring, horizontal runners of Couchgrass, 

 Thistle, Bishops weed, etc., vigorously pushing their way at 

 a depth too great for the gardener's spade. 



3. All sorts of bulbs, runners, and roots being slowly 

 hauled or dragged about till they get into exactly the right 

 position, but never remaining for two years in exactly the 

 same place. All have their favourite depth ^ — 



Herb Paris . . . . § to If inches deep. 

 Solomon's Seal . . . . 1^ to 2J ,, „ 

 Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum) . 2 to 4 „ „ 



Colchicum (Autumn Crocus) . 8^ to 5 J „ „ 

 Asparagus . . . . 6| to 13^ j, ,, 



The water evaporating on the surface of the soil must, 

 as it rises from the permanent water-level below, pass the 

 gauntlet of all these thirsty rootlets and their hairs. Tree- 

 roots will be ready to intercept it at ten feet depth, many 

 herbaceous plants will suck it in at depths of five to six feet, 

 and in the upper layers of soil it will have to pass root- 

 system after root-system from Asparagus to Paris, so that 

 very little will be lost. 



Perhaps of more importance are the bacteria-germs, and 

 dissolved mineral salts in the rain-water as it trickles down 

 from the surface. The soil particle acts as a filter : at every 

 inch of the descent some of the bacteria and salts will be 

 left, so that by the time the level of Asparagus has been 

 reached there will be exceedingly few, and the water is com- 

 paratively speaking pure. The effect of this vigorous under- 

 ^ See Rimbach's researches. 

 95 



