CHAP. J. 



O/Roots and Leaves. 



INCE the mofr immediate Ufe of 

 Agriculture, in feeding Plants, relates 

 to their Roots, they ought to be treated 

 of in the fir ft Place. 

 Roots are very different in different 

 Plants: But 'tis not neceffary here to take notice of 

 all the nice Diftinclions of them; therefore I fhall 

 only divide them in general into two Sorts, viz. Ho- 

 rizontal- Roots , and Tap- Roots, which may include 

 them all. 



All have Branchings and Fibres going all manner 

 ofways, ready to fill the Earth that is open. 



Butfuch/fotf/jaslcall Horizontal (except of Trees) 

 have feldom any of their Branchings deeper than the 

 Surface or Staple of the Earth, that is commonly 

 mov'd by the Plough or Spade. 



The Tap-Root commonly runs down Single and 

 Perpendicular (a), reaching fometimes many Fa- 

 thoms below. 



This (tho' it goes never fo deep) has horizontal 

 ones paiTing out all round the Sides \ and extend to 

 feveral Yards Diftance from it, after they are by their 



(a) In this manner defcends the firft Root of every Seed ; but 

 of Corn very little, if at all, deeper than the Earth is tilled. 



Thefe iiril Seed-Roots of Corn die as ibon as the other Roots 

 come oat near the Surface, above the Grain ; and therefore this 

 firffc is not called a Tap Root ; but yet fome of the next Roots 

 that come out near the Surface of the Ground, always reach 

 down to the Bottom of the puiveriz/d Staple ; a; may be feen, if 

 you carefully examine it in the Spring tirne ; but th.s firit Root 

 in Saint- foii» becomes a Tap Root. 



B Minute- 



