8 



THE ROOT 



nature of the soil. Of most plants the roots extend far in all 

 directions and lie comparatively near the surface. The 



roots usually radiate from a 

 common point just beneath 

 the surface of the ground. 



25. The roots may be of 

 considerable extent, ramify- 

 ing in the soil, and often 

 extending much farther in 

 all directions than the spread 

 of the top of the plant. 

 Roots 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. Examine roots in 

 stony or gravelly soil. 



26. The extent of root 

 surface is usually very large, 

 for the absorbing 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 hundreds 

 of feet. (Fig. 9.) 



27. The finest feeding roots are in 

 the richest soils. It is commonly stated 

 that they are attracted by the 

 nutrients of the soil. This is 

 not strictly true. The roots 

 may grow toward a supply of ** 

 water. Notice that in a moist 

 soil the roots are short; in a 



9. The abundant roots of maize. Note 

 that the root branches are much more 

 numerous than the leaves. 



