28 NATURE TEACHING. 



region. The older portions of the root, like 

 the youngest part, are completely free from 

 root-hairs. When a very young seedling is 

 pulled up from out of sandy soil it frequently 

 happens that a considerable quantity of 

 sand remains attached to the root, owing to 

 the root-hairs adhering firmly to the grains 

 of sand with which they were in contact. 



3. The end or tip of a root is soft and 

 tender, making one wonder how so delicate a 

 structure is able to thrust itself through the 

 hard, rough soil. Careful examination will show 

 that the tip of every root is covered with a 

 little cap or shield which serves to protect the 

 point from injury. This root-cap is, in many 

 plants, not very easy to find without the use of 

 a lens, but may often be seen in roots growing 

 in water, for instance those of the water- 

 hyacinth. The screw-pine (Pandanm) throws 

 out a number of roots from its stem ; they 

 are to be seen hanging, and growing down- 

 wards towards the ground, and, if the tips 

 of these roots are examined, they will be 

 found to be covered with well marked root- 

 caps. These serve to illustrate the nature of 

 the appendage to be found at the extremity 

 of most roots including even their finest and 

 most minute ramifications. 



