10 THE NURSERY AND THE ORCHARD. 



root is the portion which takes nourishment from the 

 soil and gives it to the plant. It is composed of the main 

 or tap root, A, its laterals, B, and the rootlets or fibres, 

 C, C. It also has a large number of exceedingly minute 

 root hairs, not visible to the unaided e3'^e, which absorb 

 moisture very rapidly. The old portions of roots that 

 are covered with hard bark imbibe very little. Trees 

 that naturally have very long tap roots are made to throw 

 out laterals, thus inducing more rapid growth and greater 

 fruitfulness, by shortening the tap root, which checks 

 the growth at its extremity. 



In taking up trees, as it is usually done, the most of the 

 smaller roots are destroyed, and unless circumstances are 

 favorable and the tree has sufficient vitality to re-pro- 

 duce them, growth cannot follow, and the tree dies- 

 Hence, it is necessary to successful transplanting that 

 the roots be injured as little as possible. 



The collar is the point of union between root andstem^ 

 just beneath the surface (D,fig. 1.) The stem is the part 

 above the collar that sustains the branches. Both stem 

 and branches are composed of an outer and inner layer 

 of bark, sap wood, perfect wood and pith. Buds are 

 formed on the tree, some of which develop into leaves 

 and aid in its growth. 



THE PROCESS OF GROWING. 



The cells of the roots charge themselves with moisture 

 from the soil, which is carried up through the sap wood 

 until it reaches the leaves. Here, under the influence of 

 the sun, it passes through important modifications and 

 descends through the inner bark, depositing a layer of 



