The Delvers in Darkness 121 



forth again, and their shoots generally bear 

 leaves much larger than those which grew on the 

 tree. In the ground below the stump there are 

 still the many rootlets which used to take up 

 enough earth-water to feed the tree, with all its 

 countless leaves. Now all this nourishment is 

 being given to a few sprays. There is no other 

 way in which the maimed tree can use it. No won- 

 der that the sprays lengthen quickly and that the 

 leaves spread wide. Leaves, as we shall see, are 

 laboratories where the earth-water gathered by 

 roots is worked over into living plant substance. 



This stump once had a full working force of 

 leaves. Now it has but a few, and they are trying 

 to make up in size what they lack in number. It 

 is necessary that they should be as large as pos- 

 sible, and they have been helped to grow by 

 abundant nourishment. 



