36 PROSERPINA. 



the granaries of Paris after the fire. So, the round 

 solid root of a cyclamen, or the conical one which 

 you know so well as a carrot, are not properly 

 roots, but permanent storehouses, — only the fibres 

 that grow from them are roots. Then there are 

 other apparent roots which are not even store- 

 houses, but refuges ; houses where the little plant 

 lives in its infancy, through winter and rough 

 weather. So that it will be best for you at once 

 to limit your idea of a root to this, — that it is 

 a group of growing fibres which taste and suck 

 what is good for the plant out of the ground, and 

 by their united strength hold it in its place; only 

 remember the thick limbs of roots do not feed, but 

 only the fine fibres at the ends of them which are 

 something between tongues and sponges, and while 

 they absorb moisture readily, are yet as particular 

 about getting what they think nice to eat as any 

 dainty little boy or girl ; looking for it every- 

 where, and turning angry and sulky if they don't 

 get it. 



io. But the root has, it seems to me, one more 

 function, the most important of all. I say, it seems 

 to me, for observe, what I have hitherto told you is 

 all (I believe) ascertained and admitted ; this that I 

 am going to tell you has not yet, as far as I know, 

 been asserted by men of science, though I believe it 



