CHARACTER OF ROOTS. 59 



winter and store up food in the plant for returning spring ; at which 

 time the new shoots of the plant are in proportion to the quantity of 

 food thus stored up. Hence the longer the period of rest, the more 

 vigor there will he in the plants and shoots on returning warm weather. 

 The quality of the nutriment which roots select is according to the 

 wants of the plant. Thus some select one kind and some another, 

 and hence the importance of providing the soil with such substances 

 as the plants are known to require. Those things which are poison- 

 ous to man are generally so to plants. Thus opium, or arsenic, pre- 

 sented to their roots will destroy them as soon as it would man. The 

 power of life in roots does not become so soon expended as in bearing 

 branches. If half a root becomes poisoned the other half will throw 

 off' the poison. 



The length of roots varies in different plants : they are generally 

 proportioned to the extent of the branches. They are more extended 

 in open fields than in woods and forests, and more on the windward 

 than on the sheltered side of a tree, in order to secure the tree more 

 firmly. The roots of palms and pines are comparatively short. An 

 oak, but 6 inches high will, in a rich deep soil, put out roots 4 feet 

 long. Roots are not only designed to supply nutriment immediately to 

 plants, but to store it up for future plants, as with the potato, etc. To 

 avoid light the roots of some plants placed on glass will send them 

 inward and they accordingly grow best on dark substances. Tuberous 

 roots and bulbs or conns are called subterranean stems, of which are the 

 tuber, as in the potato, arrow-root, etc., and the corra, as in crocus, 

 saffron and creeping-root. 



Roots consist of 2 parts, the caudex or body, and the radicles, or fibres, 

 which are capillary tubes that absorb nourishment and convey it to 

 the main branches, or the body. Between the body and stem is the 

 neck, root-stock or life-knot. Roots are annual, coming from the seed 

 in spring, and dying in autumn, as the pea, bean, cucumber, etc. ; 

 biennial, producing no flowers tlie 1st season, blossoming the next 

 summer and then dying, as the onion, beet, carrot, etc. ; and perennial, 

 living many years, as asparagus, rose, geranium, trees and shrubs. Some 

 perennials become annuals by planting them in colder climates. 



The neck being a vital part, the others may be injured or cut away 

 yet, the plant will grow. The crown or neck of a radish in water 

 will throw out vigorous leaves in a warm place, when divested of all 

 other parts. The radicles are to the caudex or body of the root what 

 the branches are to the stem. They are the chief support of the 

 root. The herbage of a young radish with all parts except the radi- 

 cles in water will soon perish, but if the radicles be immersed and the 

 other parts remain out, it will continue fresh. Roots shun the light 

 as carefully as leaves and shoots seek it. 



Forms of roots. The following are examples of some kinds of 

 oots, as characterized by their forms. 



