30 FIELD CROPS 



THE ROOTS AND THEIR USES 



27. What the Root Is. The root is the portion of the 

 plant below the surface of the ground, and by which the 

 plant maintains its position. The roots hold firmly to the 

 soil and prevent the plant from being blown from place to 

 place. Some plants, like clover and alfalfa, have taproots 



Fig. 7. Roots of young oat plants. Notice the abundance of root 

 hairs; also the growing tips, which push through the soil. 



which extend straight down into the soil, though they may 

 be changed somewhat in direction by obstacles or by sup- 

 plies of air, water, or plant food. From these taproots, 

 branches are sent out which spread through the upper por- 

 tions of the soil. Other plants, like wheat and corn, send 

 out several fibrous roots with many branches which extend 



