6 PRACTICAL BOTANY 



that trees are uprooted (Fig. 4) in times of heavy wind. In 

 other cases the anchorage may be so great that during a heavy 

 wind the plant will be broken off instead of having its roots 

 upturned. A study of such situations as those just mentioned 

 will give some idea of the distance to which the larger roots 

 spread and of the amount of soil that lies as weight upon them. 



A 



FIG. 2. Tips of two cornstalks 



A is in normal growing condition, while B, through excessive loss of water, has 

 wilted and its leaves are contracted into tube-like rolls 



7. Roots and their work: water supply. Water is essential 

 to the growth of plants. Plants of the farm, garden, lawn, 

 and those commonly grown in our homes have their roots in the 

 soil and their stems and leaves in the air, and therefore, if they 

 secure water at all, must get it from the soil or air, or both. 

 When roots are deprived of water the plants soon wilt (Fig. 2) 

 and eventually die. If one should pour water upon the stems 

 and leaves, but deprive the roots of it, the plants would not 

 thrive. Ordinarily roots secure water for the entire plant. 



8. Roots and their work: root hairs. Most root systems branch 

 near the base of the stem and continue to subdivide (Fig. 3) 



