74 



MAIZE 



chap, a growth of 5 inches has been recorded on one day under 



IV 



specially favourable conditions in Iowa, and in Illinois an 

 increase of growth equal to 1,300 lbs. of dry matter per acre 

 was recorded in a single week. 



66. The Root and Its Functions. — The root is the part of 

 the plant which grows downward into the soil for the purpose 



Fig. 18. — Maize seedlings at two stages of growth, the youngest on the left. 



of anchorage and absorption of food materials ; it does not 

 bear leaves nor reproductive organs. The water held in the 

 soil dissolves the carbonates, nitrates, and other salts which 

 occur in the soil. Dilute solutions of these are drawn in 

 through the minute root-hairs (Fig. 16) on the younger roots, 

 and are carried up into the plant, where they are chemically 



