INTRODUCTION TO PLANTS 7 



Which part of any or all of these farm plants is of 

 greatest importance to the plant itself ? 



I am sure that you will agree that the root is the 

 part most important to the plant itself, for if any 

 part of a plant be separated from the root, that part 

 ceases growth and will soon die, unless it is able to 

 put out new roots. But the root from which the 

 plant was cut will generally send up new shoots, 

 unless it has nearly completed its life work. When 

 a slip or cutting is placed in water or in moist sand 

 it makes a root before it continues much in growth. 

 When a seed is planted its first effort is to send a 

 rootlet down into the soil. 



Experiment to see if this is true by planting slips 

 of willow, or geranium, or by planting corn or beans 

 in a glass tumbler of soil, or in a box having a glass 

 side, placing the seeds close to the glass ; then watch 

 and see what the seed does. Figs. 2 and 3. 



Which of the parts of the plant is of greatest 

 importance to the farmer or any plant grower, or 

 to which part of a plant should the plant grower 

 give his best attention ? You will probably mention 

 different parts of the different plants in answering 

 this question. For instance, some will say, " The 

 seed is the most important part of the wheat plant 

 to the farmer, for that is what the wheat is grown 

 for." " The fruit is the most important part of the 

 apple plant for the same reason." " The leaves and 

 grain of the corn, the leaves of the cabbage, are 

 the important parts of these plants and should 

 have the best attention of the grower, because they 



