ROOT-SYSTEMS 



MONOCOTYLEDONS and nearly all plants that grow 

 in the mud at the bottom of tanks or in very wet 

 places, have roots of this kind and not tap-roots. 



The difference between tap-roots and fibrous roots 

 is not only one of size. A tap-root strikes down 

 deep into the ground, fibrous roots remain nearer 

 the surface, and if we examine plants carefully, we 

 find that the root -system is not a mere chance 

 result depending on the tap-root being injured or 

 not, but that, except when forced by the nature 

 of the ground, some kinds of plants have always deep 

 roots others always shallow, and a knowledge of this 

 is invaluable in agriculture or gardening. 



Trees are mostly deep rooted those whose roots 

 are shallow are much less firmly held on the ground 

 and much more easily upset in a storm of wind. But 

 of shrubs and herbs, many have roots which keep 

 close to the surface of the soil, and are therefore 

 easily injured if the soil is disturbed, soon suffer if it 

 becomes too dry, and as quickly revive after a shower 

 of rain. Fruit-trees are often of this type the 

 Coffee-bush for instance is a shallow rooting tree, 

 which must have the surface soil kept constantly 

 moist and undisturbed, and readily responds to a 

 surface dressing of manure. A deeply-rooted tree 

 does not impoverish the soil, for it draws its food- 

 materials from deep down in the ground. Rather, it 

 slowly enriches it by the decay of the leaves and 

 branches it sheds. But when a number of shallow- 

 rooted shrubs are growing, the surface soil is soon 

 impoverished and must be constantly manured, and 

 a little consideration will show that if we want our 



