THE PARK. 123 



of withstanding the force of wind and storm with 

 impunity. Instead, therefore, of limbs, or, any modifi- 

 cation of them, it is provided with strong and heavy 

 anchors in the shape of large and long roots, which are 

 many and penetrate deep into the soil. But to fix the 

 tree to the ground upon which it grows is not the only 

 function of the roots ; they also suck up the moisture 

 from the soil. 



There is yet another very important function which 

 the roots perform, they absorb nitrogen, sulphur, and 

 phosphorus from the soil. It must not be understood, 

 however, that they take in these elemental bodies in 

 their free state as nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphoriis, but 

 in combination with other things in the form of soluble 

 nitrates, phosphates and sulphates. Why this particular 

 function of the roots is so important, and what part 

 these elementary bodies, especially the nitrogen, play 

 in the life-history of a plant, will be explained later on, 

 when we come to study other parts of the tree. 



Strange though it may sound it is nevertheless true, 

 that in the performance of their several functions the roots 

 might almost appear to exercise a certain amount of in- 

 telligence and discrimination. The evidence is close at 

 hand. There, upon a tumbled-down brickwork the fast 

 disappearing remains of an ancient temple, grows a banyan. 

 It is yet a small tree, but its cable-like roots are alread y 

 very long, and rootlets numerous. The obvious impression 

 which they convey to an observer's mind is that, in or- 

 der to fix the tree with firmness, they are struggling to 



