4 THE BANANA 



mobile food (sugar), when the bulb absorbs warmth and 

 moisture from the soil ; then growth commences, and the 

 eyes begin to shoot. One shoot takes the lead, monopoliz- 

 ing most of the food supplied from the bulb, and this 

 leading shoot is known henceforth as the plant the others 

 are its " suckers." 



THE ROOTS 



There are two sets of roots, the horizontal and the vertical ; 

 the horizontal push out in all directions, while others 

 from the base of the bulb grow vertically downwards 

 (Fig. 1). The main roots are fleshy, not forming wood, 

 and are of the same thickness throughout, like stout cords, 

 whereas the roots of rubber, orange, &c., become thicker 

 and more woody the older they are. The growing cells 

 occupy only a small portion in length of the root behind 

 the tip, and the tissue of this part is tender and very 

 intimately attached to the minute particles of soil. The 

 cord-like roots do not branch naturally, but short thread- 

 like roots grow out, and on these, and on the main roots 

 behind the growing portion, are the root -hairs which do 

 the work of absorbing liquid from the soil. Throughout 

 the whole length of these roots there are bundles of fibres 

 running into the bulb, which can be discerned on cutting 

 a root across. These bundles connect the absorbing root- 

 hairs with the leaves. If a heavy wind shakes the stem, 

 the thread-like roots with the root -hairs are torn off, and 

 perhaps even the cord-like roots are broken ; the ap- 

 paratus for absorbing soil moisture in which the mineral 

 elements of the food are dissolved is destroyed, and the 

 effects are noticed at a later period in the bunches or the 

 fruit coming small. 



The roots generally do not seem to have the power 

 of adapting themselves, like the roots of many other 

 plants, to overcoming difficulties. They are not sensitive 

 to anything like the same extent ; on meeting a large 

 stone they do not feel their way under or over it ; tlley do 

 not respond to the stimulus of obstruction by curving. 



