102 
Fortunately it does not need to do either of these 
things. 
If you will look closely at the root of a plant that 
has been raised in water, you will see that it is rough 
with a quantity of tiny hairs. These little hairs hold 
the acid which can dissolve the solid earth food. When 
they touch this food, they send out some of the acid, 
and in this it is soon dissolved. Then the little mouths . 
suck it in, and it is carried up through the root into o the 
rest of the plant. 
Would you have guessed that plants were able to 
prepare their food in any such wonderful way as this? 
It surprised me very much, I remember, to learn that 
a root could give out acids, and so dissolve the earth 
food it needed. 
ROOTS AND UNDERGROUND STEMS 
e the last chapter you learned that the root of the 
bean plant has two uses. 
It holds the plant in place, and it provides it with 
food and drink. Such a root as this of the bean plant 
—one that is made up of what looks like a bunch of 
threads — is called a ‘‘fibrous”’ root. 
The next picture shows you the root of a beet plant 
(Fig. 109). 
Such a thick, fat root as this of the beet is called 
a “‘fleshy ~ reot.-- The carrot, turnip, radish, and sweet 
potato, all have fleshy roots. 
