WATER FOR THE PLANT 31 



dissolve plant-food from the soil. You can see the root- 

 hairs plainly by causing grains of corn or any other seeds 

 to sprout between moist blotting paper and by examining 

 after a few days the roots that have grown out. 



Root-hairs are tiny workers that have to furnish all 

 the water a large plant needs. There are thousands 

 of them on every large growing plant. Root-hairs can 

 be found only near the tips of young roots. They are 

 so slender that they can push in between the particles 

 of sand or clay and absorb moisture from all the soil 

 grains that touch them. It is important therefore to 

 retain the small or young roots on trees or other plants 

 that are to be transplanted. 



Leaves do not supply water. The dew and rain keep 

 the leaves from wasting moisture, but do not enter the 

 leaves themselves. Leaves do not supply the plant with 

 water. 



NOTE TO THE TEACHER. Crosby's Exercise 2 (see note to Sec- 

 tion I) illustrates how water enters the roots of plants. You may well 

 use Crosby's Exercise 5 to show the rising of water in plants. You can 

 substitute the joint of a reed for his glass tube. Have the pupils place 

 seed in moist newspapers, cloth, or soil to germinate. As soon as the 

 root-hairs develop require every one to hand you a drawing showing 

 these. 



