40 PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE 



between the soil particles, and fit into their smallest un- 

 evennesses, instead of pushing even the smallest particles 

 aside, as the roots do when they grow through the soil. 

 This makes them better fitted than the finest roots to 

 take the films of water away from the particles of the 

 soil. They also increase the absorbing area of the roots; 

 the hairs give the roots of some plants as much as twelve 

 times the absorbing surface the roots would have without 

 them. The hairs are formed on the youngest parts that 

 have stopped growing. They are short-lived, and so are 

 not found on old roots. 



Wash the soil very carefully from the roots of a young maize plant 

 with roots not more than 10 cm long. The roots will be seen to have a 

 felty covering made of the root hairs. A single root hair is often too 

 small to be seen without a microscope. 



Because the root hairs are so delicate, it is usually im- 

 possible to transplant a plant without breaking most of 

 them. When they are broken, the plant is left without 

 its absorbing structures, and even if the ground be very 

 wet, the plant is likely to die promptly for' want of water 

 if it transpires actively. The transpiration of transplanted 

 trees is often prevented by cutting off a large part of the 

 leaves or branches. When garden plants are trans- 

 planted they must be shaded, if the sun shines. Within 

 a day or two they provide themselves with new root hairs, 

 and the shade may be removed. Because the air is most 

 moist at night, the best time of day for transplanting is 

 late in the afternoon. Plants should be watered before 

 and after transplanting. 



