128 How an Oak grows from an Acorn. 



138. At the end of every little root is a kind of mouth 

 and, as different kinds of plants require different kinds of 

 nourishment, these little roots, which appear like bunches 

 of threads, keep spreading themselves in the ground 

 in search of the particular substances just suit- 

 ed to the plant which it is their duty to supply. 



139. So you may consider the roots and 

 their mouths to be the storehouse and food- 

 gatherers ; the long, narrow pipes in the stem 

 or trunk, the channels or means of convey- 

 ance; and the leaves to be a kind of 

 stomach or manufactory for preparing the 

 food and making it fit for use. 

 That is, all parts of a tree or 

 plant act in harmony with each 

 other for some good purpose. 



140. There are different 

 kinds of roots : ist, those of 

 forest trees, which extend in 

 various directions and some- 

 times to greater distances 

 than the trunk and its 

 branches ; 2d, those which 

 appear like a bunch of 

 threads or fibers, and 

 which are called fibrous, 

 as those of the hyacinth 

 and grasses ; 3d, those 

 associated with tubers, How an Oak begins to grow. 



like the potato, and which are called fleshy roots ; 4th, 

 those which taper downward and send out fibers from 

 their sides, like the carrot and parsnip. 



