THE WHEAT CULTUEIST. 



29 



a person will examine the ends of roots of the wheat 

 plant, with a microscope, he will find a free cone, or 

 spongiole, at the ends of the roots E, E, Fig. 4 ; and 

 the same thing, highly magnified, is represented at 

 Fig. 5. The part represented by the letter d is the 

 root; and c, b is the lozenge-shaped cone. This free 

 capsule envelops the inner apex of the growing root ; 

 but there is a space free from cells between the base of 

 the cone and the apex of the root which the cone covers. 

 Beneath this cellulated cone, or capsule, the growth of 

 the roots takes place, by the development of cells at the 



Fig. 5. — Spongiole highly magnified. 



extremity of the inner apex of the roots. Soon after 

 the main roots are formed, suckers, or rootlets, e, e, e, 

 Fig. 4, are put forth, on the ends of which are minute 



