The Root 



there is a layer of tiles in the soil of the 

 nursery. The tap root of the shrub lengthens 

 until it reaches this barrier, but it must then 

 arrest its downward progress and branch out 

 laterally. 



The root with which we have been con- 

 cerned is primordial and original ; every 

 plant possesses it as it leaves the seed — and 

 it appears as soon as germination begins. 

 But many plants have other roots which 

 are developed at different points on the stem 

 and replace the original root if it should die, 

 or come to its assistance if it persists. These 

 play an important part in certain horticul- 

 tural operations, especially in propagation by 

 cuttings and layering. 



Besides these two operations which are 

 intended to multiply the plant, the production 

 of adventitious roots is promoted, with the 

 object of fixing the plant more firmly in the 

 ground, or of obtaining a more abundant 

 harvest. The most effective way of doing 

 this is to heap up the ground at the base of 

 the stem. This is called buttressing. The 

 buried portion is soon covered with roots. 

 Maize, for instance, if left to itself, has too 

 weak a root to resist the wind and the rain, 

 which would lay it flat. The agriculturist 



57 



