\ THE ROOT. 



Practical gardeners follow this principle when they bury the 

 limbs of shrubs, until they take root, by bending down the 

 body of the tree ; after which, each limb being severed from 

 the parent, forms a new tree. This is termed propagation by 

 layers. 



In China, trees are divided and multiplied on the same prin- 

 ciple, but in a manner somewhat different. For this purpose, 

 a circle of the bark, an inch or two in length, is removed 

 from the limb which it is intended should form the future tree, 

 as at b, Fig. 4. 



This is done in Fi s- 4. 



the spring, and 

 the part so left 

 naked is imme- 

 diately covered 

 with a ball of 

 moist earth, which is kept in its place by a slip of matting, 

 or other means. Over the ball of earth is suspended a ves- 

 sel of water, with a small orifice in its bottom, through which 

 the water passes in just sufficient quantity to keep the earth 

 constantly moist. In the autumn, it will be found that many 

 small roots from the lirnb have shot into the earth. The 

 branch is then sawn off just below this part, and set into the 

 ground ; and it is said that if the branch has borne fruit, it 

 will continue to do so the next year, and that in this manner, 

 dwarfs of the smallest .sizes may easily be formed. 



Fibrous root, Fig. 5. (Radix fibrosa.} This 

 root is common to many annual plants, and 

 to most of the grasses. The fibres are com- 

 monly thickly branched, and where they 

 grow in a light sandy soil, these are covered 

 with other fibres so small as to resemble 

 down. Dr. Smith suggests that these are 

 provided, not only to fix the plant more 

 strongly in a light soil, but also to present 

 more points of absorption where the nourishment is small in 

 quantity. 



How are dwarf trees said to be formed in China 1 What is a fibrous 

 root ] Why are the fibres increased in a light sandy soil 1 What is th 

 form of a tuberous or knotted root 1 



What is a moniliform root ? What is the form of a granulated root '. 

 What is the form of a palmated root 1 What is the difference between 

 the scaly bulb and solid bulb 1 What kind of root is the onion 1 



