n. THE BOOT. 27 



In Greek, pla, Rhiza.* 



In Latin, Radix, " the growing thing," which shortens, 

 in French, into Race, and then they put on the diminu- 

 tive < ine,' and get their two words. Race, and Racine, of 

 which w r e keep Race for animals, and use for vegetables a 

 word of our own Saxon (and Dutch) dialect, ' root '; (con- 

 nected with Rood an image of wood ; whence at last the 

 Holy Rood, or Tree). 



3. The Root has three great functions : 



1st. To hold the plant in its place. 

 2nd. To nourish it with earth. 

 3rd. To receive vital power for it from the earth. 



With this last office is in some degree, and especially 

 in certain plants,- connected, that of reproduction. 



But in all plants the root has these three essential func- 

 tions. 



First, I said, to hold the Plant in its place. The Root is 

 its Fetter. 



You think it, perhaps, a matter of course that a plant is 

 not to be a crawling thing ? It is not a matter of course 

 at all. A vegetable might be just what it is now, as com- 

 pared with an animal ; might live on earth and water in- 

 stead of on meat, might be as senseless in life, as calm in 

 death, and in all its parts and apparent structure un- 



* Learn this word, at any rate ; and if you know any Greek, learn 

 also this group .of words: u J>f pi(,a kv yfi dn^wcr^" which you may 

 chance to meet with, and even to think about, some day. 



