28 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



rest, there is a very great deal below the surface. 

 The forms taken by roots are very varied, even 

 if we put aside altogether the underground pro- 

 cesses such as bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes, which 

 are, after all, only modified stems. In most cases 

 those parts of the plant beneath the surface are to 

 be regarded as storage chambers upon which the 

 specimen will draw when it is called upon to 

 start its spring growth. With some species the 

 amount of energy stored up is very considerable 

 sufficient to bring the plant to its maturity if 

 moisture is obtainable. Thus it is seen that a 

 Hyacinth will produce leaves and flowers grown 

 in a vase of plain water. 



All through the winter millions of seeds have 

 been lying in the earth. These have remained 

 in a state of quiescence, just in the same condi- 

 tion as when they tumbled, brown and ripe, 

 from the parent plant. It is always somewhat of 

 a mystery as to how it is that the seeds are so 

 well planted. By some means or other Nature 

 generally manages to get most of her seeds 

 covered in before the winter arrives. There is 

 little doubt that the earth-worms take on a large 

 share of the work. During the moist autumn 

 weather these creatures work comparatively near 

 to the surface, and their countless upheavals of 



