8 



THE BOOT 



9. The crooked roots exposed where the soil has 

 been washed away. 



extend far in all 

 directions and lie 

 comparatively near 

 the surface. The 

 roots usually radi- 

 ate from a common 

 point just beneath 

 the surface of the 

 ground 



25. The roots 

 go here and there 

 in search of food, 

 often extending 

 much farther in all 

 directions than the spread of the top of the plant. Koots 

 tend to spread farther in poor soil than in rich soil. The 

 root has no such definite form as the stem has. Roots are 

 usually very crooked, Because they are constantly turned 

 aside by obstacles. Fig. 9. Examine 

 roots in stony or gravelly soil. 



26. The extent of root surface is usu- 

 ally very large, for the feeding roots 

 are fine and very 

 numerous . An 

 ordinary plant of 

 Indian corn may 

 have a total length 

 of root (measured 

 as if the roots were 

 placed end to end) of several hundred feet. 



27. The fine feeding roots are most abun- 

 dant in the richest soil. They are attracted by 

 the food materials. Roots often will completely 

 surround a bone or other morsel. When roots 



11. Root-hairs 



of the radish, of trees are exposed, observe that most of 



10. The bracing buttresses of 

 a field pine. 



