42 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



supply the portion of the plant growing above the 

 ground with a firm support. Second, they supply the 

 plant with much of its food and water. 



The root hairs and smaller roots supply most of the 

 food and water. The larger and stronger roots serve 

 as carriers of food and support the growing plant. 



38. Stems. — Stems are more varied in appearance 

 than roots. In large plants, such as trees and shrubs, 

 the stem consists of a main upright portion called the 

 trunk, which is provided with a nonber of branches 

 called limbs, and they in turn are provided with 

 branches called twigs.. In most plants the stems are 

 upright, and the general direction of the limbs is the 

 same. But there are many plants provided with hori- 

 zontal stems growing along the surface of the soil ; other 

 plants are provided with drooping stems, which, after 

 reaching a certain height, turn towards the earth again. 

 Still others are provided with twining stems, and can 

 only grow upward when provided with a support around 

 which they grow. But whatever the shape and size of 

 stems they all serve the same purpose. They bear the 

 leaves, flowers, fruit, and seed of the plant, and they 

 serve to distribute the food and water taken in by the 

 roots and leaves. 



39. Leaves. — Leaves are more varied in size and 

 shape than either the stems or roots, but most leaves 

 have one striking point in common — namely, their color. 

 With a few exceptions all living leaves are green, and 

 a loss of this color only occurs through disease or death. 

 The stems of young plants and the tender twigs of 

 older plants are often as green as the leaves. The veins 



