FUNCTIONS OF PLANT ORGANS 



The seed of any plant is supposed to contain enough 

 nourishment for growth until the roots are large enough 

 to drink in their nourishment from the surrounding soil, 

 and the stem to break through the top of the ground to 

 breathe in the required air. 



The roots are the organs that search out into every 

 particle and recess of the soil within reach for plant 

 food, and carry it to the stem. 



The most important part of the crop growing opera- 

 tion consists in bringing about a soil condition whereby 

 the seed can germinate according to its natural inclina- 

 tion and the plant produce a root system necessary for 

 vigorous growth and flowering. 



The little kernels in the wheat illustration were 

 sprouted to show how little and tender are the roots 

 of germinating seeds. 



Four kernels of sprouted wheat. The two outside ^ernc/s would 

 sustain the plant until the roots and stems could feed themselves. The 

 two inside plants were weak seeds. The seeds are entirely consumed, 

 and the young plants are not large enough to support themselves. 



