tibe Stor^ of tbe IRoot 13 



Mr. Tyndall replied that " he would as soon be- 

 lieve a sheep to be a plant." 



And yet, Huxley says that, after long study, he 

 remains where he was at first : '' There is no reason 

 why this minute monad may not be an animal, and 

 there is equally no reason why it may not be a 

 vegetable." 



Such is that border-land between the animal and 

 the plant, where the foot of the diligent botanist 

 may ultimately tread. Into such Dark Continent 

 we do not propose to go. In this simple little work 

 a guide-book to the beginning of the way, we merely 

 commence the study of Plant Life with the earth and 

 end in the earth. 



FROM ROOT TO FRUIT 



There is no season of the year in which we cannot 

 pursue the story of plant life. Every month offers its 

 theme. Let us devote January to making the ac- 

 quaintance of the root. When a seed germinates it 

 sends forth a sprout, placed perpendicularly. The 

 upper growing point is the stem or ascending axis. 

 It has affinity for light and heat ; it j)^C)duces 

 buds, which develop into leaves, blossoms, and 

 other parts of a plant. This stem also produces 

 roots, for its downward portion has affinity for dark- 

 ness and moisture ; it is an earth-lover, produces no 



