DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. [322] 



change its course readily, when obstacles prevent further 

 progress in a given direction. 



Roots require, for their growth and normal development, 

 warmth, moisture and oxygen, to enable them to perform 

 their functions. 



Different plants require different degrees of warmth and 

 moisture Cotton thrives best under a high temperature, 

 and requires a moderate degree of moisture, while corn 

 requires less warmth and more moisture. 



Deep and thorough preparation, and drainage of the 

 soil, facilitate the removal of surplus water in wet seasons; 

 enable roots to penetrate more deeply, in search of moist- 

 ure, during drouths ; admit atmospheric air, from which 

 the soil derives moisture by condensation of watery vapor, 

 and oxygen and carbonic acid, both for the immediate use 

 of the roots, and for the decomposition and preparation of 

 inert substances for plant-food. 



The character and form of the roots, even of the same 

 plant, will vary according to the degree of pulverization of 

 the soil, and the distribution of the plant-food, as well as the 

 fertility of the soil. In poor soil, the roots are more atten- 

 uated, and much longer, than in fertile. 



In the latter, they branch and ramify much more exten- 

 sively, permeating every part of the soil adjacent to the 

 plant, but acquiring less length in the individual root. 

 The absorbing surface is, therefore, greater in fertile than 

 in poor soils. 



Roots seem to seek manure. A mass of well decomposed 

 manure, placed near the plant, will be found filled with a 

 multitude of fibrous roots ; but this is probably due to the 

 xtra development resulting from the nutrition derived 

 from the manure, while those in parts of soil deficient in 

 plant-food either fail to develop, or perish. There are many 

 facts, however, which indicate a self-determining power of 

 directing their course in search of both food and moisture. 

 If manure is placed around a beet seed, at a depth of only 



