CHAPTER' III. 

 ROOTS. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



42. Nearly fill two wide-mouth bottles with a soil com- 

 posed of one third black loam, one third rotted manure, 

 and one third sifted sand. In one bottle, plant a soaked 

 seed of Indian corn, and in the other a soaked seed of Lima 

 bean, and incHne the bottles at an angle of 45°. Notice 

 whether the roots take the same direction in both cases. 

 If any of the roots reach the side of the bottle, note the 

 behavior of their tips as they make their way between the 

 soil particles. Study with a lens and note the relation of 

 the root hairs to the soil particles. How close to the apex 

 of the root, and how far back from the apex, do the root 

 hairs grow ? 



43. Soak seeds of barley in water over night, and plant 

 between pieces of moist carpet paper, or blotting paper, 

 about three inches square. Prepare seeds thus for each 

 student. Keep in a covered dish in a warm place, and do 

 not allow the paper to become dry. After the roots have 

 grown out for an inch or more make drawings to show the 

 root hairs. 



44. Place a piece of polished marble at the bottom of a 

 flower pot, or, instead of the marble, a clam or oyster shell 

 with the concave side up. Nearly fill the pot with the 

 soil mixture above described, and plant in it a few seeds of 

 soaked Indian corn. After a few weeks, if the corn has 



28 



