50 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. [336] 



leaves is in excess of the absorption by the roots, the leaves 

 wilt, and the plant suffers. 



The same effect is seen when, in summer, the careless 

 plowman breaks the roots of plants, and thus curtails their 

 absorbing surface. Every farmer has seen the ill effects of 

 breaking the roots of corn and cotton in summer. Re- 

 cognizing this fact, the branches of trees are partially re- 

 moved at transplanting, to readjust the equilibrium between 

 the stem and the remaining roots. 



The organs of vegetation, roots, stems and leaves have 

 been briefly described, and their offices explained in gener- 

 al terms. 



ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION embrace the flower and seed, 

 by means of which plants are enabled to perpetuate their 

 species. 



' 'The flower, " says Gray, "is a branch intended for a pecu- 

 liar purpose. While a branch with ordinary leaves is in- 

 tended for growing, and for collecting from the air, and 

 preparing or digesting food, a blossom is a very short and 

 special sort of branch, intended for the production of seed. 

 The parts of the flower, excepting the receptacle, answer 

 to leaves." 



Sepal. 



Fig. 9. 



Receptacle. 



Fig. 10. 



Sepal. 



Fig. 9 represents a flower complete in all its parts. Fig. 

 10 shows the different parts of the flower in pairs, sepa- 



