512 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



the aid of a mag^nifyin<f glass. They are so 

 delicate that they are easily destroyed by 

 bruising' or by slight exposure to the sun or 

 wind. In the "ordinary practice of trans- 

 planting, the greater part of the root-hairs 

 are broken off and destroyed, but if the soil 

 conditions are favorable they are rapidly re- 

 produced. 



THE FUNCTIONS OV ROOTS. 



One of the self-evident functions of roots 

 is to anchor or support the tree in the 

 ground. To this end the development of 

 the roots of a tree correspond very closely 

 with that of the top above ground. If the 

 top is low and spreading, the roots will be 

 shallow and spreading. If the top is high, 

 exposing it to strong winds, the roots na- 

 turally grow deeper to anchor it more firmly 

 in the soil. 



Another function of the roots is to dis- 

 solve inorganic elements in the soil, making 

 them available as plant food. This solvent 

 power of the roots is due to the acid juice 

 contained in the root-hairs, which acts 

 chemically upon the mineral plant food in 

 the soil, gradually dissolving it so that it 

 may enter into the growth of the tree. 



In addition to rendering plant food availa- 

 ble, the roots absorb soil moisture contain- 

 ing this plant food in solution. The ab- 

 sorption of soil moisture takes place mostly 

 in the root-hairs and small rootlets ; the 

 older roots, covered with a hard thick bark 

 absorb very little, if any at all. 



From this brief study of the nature and 



functions of roots, it will be seen that while 

 the older and larger roots may be most im- 

 portant in anchoring the tree in the soil, yet 

 the newer and smaller roots and root-hairs, 

 which are usually most remote from the 

 trunk, are most attractive in nourishing the 

 tree. 



PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS. 



In this connection a few practical points 

 may be emphasized, which should be remem- 

 bered in the management of trees singly or 

 in orchards : 



1. In transplanting young trees, the bet- 

 ter the root system is preserved uninjured, 

 and the more favorable the soil conditions 

 for growth, the more readily the root-hairs 

 are reproduced, and the roots establish 

 themselves in their new position. 



2. In watering newly planted, or even 

 established trees, if the water is to be of any 

 use, it must be applied so that it will reach 

 the smallest roots. 



3. Whenever a fertilizer of any kind is 

 applied for the benefit of the tree, it should 

 not be banked around the tree trunk as is 

 often done, but should be spread evenly over 

 the ground out as far as the roots extend. 

 The rain water passing through the soil 

 will gradually wash it down to where the 

 root-hairs can get at it. 



4. As water is the vehicle by which all 

 plant food is taken in by the roots, it is im- 

 portant that the soil be so managed as to 

 conserve soil moisture sufficient to supply 

 the needs of the tree. 



O. A. C, Guelph. Prof. A. H. Hutt. 



A Fine Record. — Mr. W. A. McKinnon, 



Chief of the Fruit Division, Department of 



Agriculture, reports as follows : 



" The ' Marina,' on her last trip, carried a lot of 

 Bartlett and other pears, and they were reported 

 landed in good condition. The thermograph re- 



cord shows that the fruit was carried at an average 

 temperature of 39 degrees, with a variation of not 

 more than two degrees during eleven days' run. 

 Mr. Robt. Logan, Chief Engineer of the 'Marina," 

 deserves the gratitude of the fruit trade for this 

 performance, which also reflects great credit on 

 the Donaldson Line." 



