THE YOUNG PLANT. 



a mass of fine roots. We call such a root 

 fibrous. In the case of large trees, we find 

 large roots running off in all directions, 

 many of them for long distances. If we 

 take up a piece of tree root, we find the outer 

 end covered with fresh, fine, hairy-like roots. 

 These are the feeders of the big roots. 



How do roots grow ? A man's arm is 

 longer and larger than a boy's arm. How 

 did it grow? Not simply by adding on at Fig. 10. Fibrous root, 



as of grass. 



the end, for in that case the man's arm would 



be merely the boy's arm with very long fingers. All parts of the 



arm must have grown at the same time. A root would find it 



very difficult to grow in that way through the soil. It adds on at 



the end or the tip. Sometimes a root has to go around a large 



stone ; a bend is formed in the root. How difficult it would 



be for the root if it had to keep pulling itself around that stone 



as it grew longer. Roots, of course, grow larger and thicker, 



pushing aside the soil and even rocks ; but 



they lengthen at the tips and take in the 



food from the soil through the fine, hairy 



rootlets, which are always found in largest 



numbers near the ends of the newly- 



formed roots. 



Two other things we notice, namely, the 

 roots do not bear leaves and they are not 

 green. They are generally light colored 

 inside with a dark covering. They are 

 also quite pliable easily bent or twisted ; 



f , ., , f .. . . Fig. it. End of Root, my 



in fact they are made for working their ercd with fine, hairy 



, .1 i .1 1 i 



way easily through the soil and around 



n 11 i i f 



stones. Pull up a bunch of grass and 

 observe how the roots cling to the fine soil. 

 Also observe how crooked a tree root grows. 



feeding rootlets, a s up 



hardened for protection; 



/>is crowing part ; c is 



older part of Toot. The 



'' wb ' ch 



