52 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
brous root systems we see illustrated in Indian corn, all the 
small grains, the grasses, and the clovers. 
The Function of Roots.— The three most important 
uses of roots are to hold the plant in position, to absorb water 
from the soil for its use, and to store plant food. 
1. Roots hold the plant in position.—- The first of these 
functions is quite obvious, but it is interesting to notice the 
magnitude of the root system that is evidently 
required to hold a plant like a large tree in an 
upright position in a heavy storm. Roots of 
great strength reach long distances in every 
direction, and from them hundreds of smaller 
ones branch off. To blow the tree over, half of 
these roots must break off, or else it is necessary 
to lift the many tons of earth in which they are 
anchored. 
2. Roots take water from the ground. — All 
the younger and fresher roots absorb some water 
from the ground, but the most active part of 
this work is performed by the tiny root hairs 
that cover the finest rootlets. These root hairs 
are most easily seen on young seedlings. 
This water contains plant food. — It must not 
be supposed, however, that the water taken up 
by the roots is perfectly pure. We all know that well water 
is harder than rain water. The hardness is due to mineral 
matter that the water has dissolved in leaching through the 
earth. In the same way the water which the roots drink is 
charged with nourishment from the soil, and the richer the 
soil the more nourishing this water will be. This is the way 
the plant gets the benefit of the plant food in the soil. It 
can take nothing from it in any other way than in solution. 
Root Hairs 
Barley root. 
