KOOTS 69 



arc the fibres and their hairs which enable them to 

 i^row to maturit}'. We nia\- natural I \- inquire how 

 the solid materials in the soil, which are needful to 

 the L^rowth ot the stem and lca\es, can possibly be 

 taken up In' these e.\lremel\- minute hairs. 



We ma}' look U[)on the earth as bein<4" a sort <)f 

 store-house of indigestible, unprejjared plant-food 

 u hich must be altered in its character before it will 

 be fit for absorption b\- the roots. Some .sub.stances, 

 such as sui^ar, will readil)' dissohe in water; others, 

 such as starch and .sand, are insoluble, but the effect 

 of rain-water and atmospheric air passing through 

 the soil, converts this insoluble dormant food into 

 soluble acti\e food. 



The root-hairs conve)' this food to the small 

 fibres, and through them as channels it passes on 

 to larger ones, until it reaches the stem and goes to 

 \'ce(\ the growing lea\es and flowers. 



In order to reinain in a healthy state, roots must 

 absorl) oxygen gas, and for this reason gardeners, 

 when the)' find the soil growing caked and hard on 

 the surfiice. dig <ind rake the (lower-borders in order 

 that air ma\- freel)- permeate the soil and finrl access 

 to the roots of the plants. 



