140 



TALKS AFIELD. 



ing that these same branches are somethnes 

 tough enough for withes above the one brit- 

 tle spot near the base. There must be some 

 significance to this peculiar disposition, and 

 I know of none so probable as that suggested 

 by Dr. W. J. Beal, who thinks that in this 

 manner do willows undertake to propagate 

 themselves. This is certainly a beautiful 

 provision : the very enemies which browse 

 or break the plant become active agents in 

 its dissemination ! 



A Talk About Roots. 



Figure 95 represents a 

 young squash plant which 

 has been removed carefully 

 from the earth and marked 

 at regular intervals through- 

 out its whole length with 

 cross lines of waterproof 

 ink. This plant is again 

 set in loose, clean sand, 

 and in a few days it pre- 

 sents the appearance of 

 Fig". 96. It will be seen 

 that a peculiar change has 

 taken place besides the increase in size of 

 the plant ; the lines upon the root portion 



Fig. 95. 



