TIIK nKKR'ES l)f THK IM.ANT UH 



2. Tin riant i,i its Urlnt'xm to Soil 



\i\\K Tilt' ])l;iiit is a soil niakfr. It hroaks 

 (U>\vn tilt' rock l>y iiit'i'lianu'al tnrft' and Ity dis- 

 st)Ivin,Lr s«)nu> of its coiistitut'iits (.'!(), '.\()h). It 

 tills l><)«::s aiitl lagoons aud extends the margins 

 t»f lakfs and st^as (32, H'J^O . 



17<i. TIh' jijant is a soil ini|>r<>\ fr. It ojh-iis 

 auti Ittoscns lianl soils, t'siifcially it", likf tlif 

 t'li»vt'i-, it has a ta]>-root, which it scntls tlt'cjt 

 intt> tilt' earth. It tills and hinds loose antl 

 Icachy soils. When it tlccays it atlds huiiius 



(.•^5, :u, 7:;. 74). 



171. Till' plant is a st)il j)rott'ct<>r. It ]trt'- 

 vcnts the wasiiing of soils, and }>roteets tho 

 sands of dnncs and shores fi-oni the winds, 

 it holds the rainfall until it .soaks into the 

 soil (70, IHJ). 



.1. ///' I'linit in its Ii(l(itio}i to Clinititf 



17'J. The plant intlueiices the nit»isture siijt- 

 ply: l»y ni<>dit"yiiig the tlistrihution t>f precijti- 

 tatitin ; hy causing tiie retention of the pre- 

 cipitation ; hy lessening evaporation; l»y adding 

 moisture to the atmosphere. 



17.'{. The plant inlluenees tlie hahitaltleiu'ss 

 of the earth hy other means : as hy inotlifying 

 •^xtremos of t<»mperuture ; hy affording win<l- 



