ROOTS 1 5 



soil from over the plow (see Fig. 10), and see where 

 the roots are. We will find that the plow-point runs 

 under many strong-feeding lateral roots and tears 

 them off, thus checking the feeding power of the 

 plant, and consequently checking its growth. Now, 

 if we can get a cultivator, we will have that run 

 along the row and then wash away the loosened soil. 

 It will be found that few, if any, of the main lateral 

 roots have been injured. 



Is it of any value to the farmer to know that 

 roots extend laterally three to six feet and more on 

 all sides of the plant, and that every part of the up- 

 per soil is filled with their branches and rootlets? 

 This fact has a bearing on the application of manures 

 and fertilizers. It tells the farmer that when he 

 applies the manure and fertilizers to the soil he 

 should mix the most of them thoroughly all through 

 the soil, placing only a little directly in the row to 

 start the young plant. 



To find out how quickly the roots reach out into 

 the soil, wash the soil away from some seedlings that 

 have been growing only a few days, say, seven, ten 

 and fifteen. (See Fig. n.) 



From our observations, then, we have learned the 

 important lessons of deep, thorough plowing, care- 

 ful shallow after-cultivation, and that fertilizers 

 should be well mixed with the soil. 



We are now ready to go back to our study of the 

 habit of growth of roots, and can perhaps tell some- 

 thing of how the root does its work for the plant. 



It is very easy to see how the roots hold the plant 



