MANDAt bP NATDRS S*tJDY. 65 



by these root-hairs and thus get into the structure 

 of the plant. Dissolve a small quantity of table 

 salt in a tumbler of water. Can root hairs now 

 take up salt? Dissolve sugar. Can root-hairs now 

 take up sugar when they drink the water contain- 

 ing it? Could they have done so before it was 

 dissolved? Can root-hairs take up grains of sand? 

 See if sand will dissolve in water. Can root-hairs 

 take up lime? See if lime is soluble in water. 

 Then how do lime and sand or silicon get into the 

 growth of the plant? We know these substances 

 are there, for they form the*strength to the stalk of 

 wheat, grass, or corn, etc. It has been proved by 

 experiment that when these substances are found 

 in proper proportions they unite chemically, thus 

 forming a substance that will dissolve in water. 

 Thus united and thus dissolved in water the root- 

 hairs have an easy task to perform in carrying 

 these substances up to the factory. What, now, 

 is the great use of water in plant life? I wonder if 

 it serves the same purpose in animal life? 



Here the teacher should explain that the villi of 

 the intestines are something like root-hairs dipping 

 into the food which has passed from the stomach, 

 and drinking the liquid which contains sugar, salt 

 and other substances in solution. Can anything 

 not 'dissolved be sucked up by these very minute 



