304 NATURE-STUDY 



dicate. A similar experiment may be tried at a road-cut or 

 hillside cutting, where the roots of plants may be exposed 

 in the same way. Tree roots may be followed long dis- 

 tances where they have been exposed by erosion. This 

 may help to give the children a better idea of the importance 

 of roots. In a general way we may say that the root growth 

 below the surface of the soil equals that of the stem and 

 foliage above. 



Try this experiment : Cut off close to the root the stem 

 of a seedling like a squash or sunflower and note the sap 

 flowing up from the root. This illustrates the power of roots 

 to send up moisture. 



Fleshy roots, such as the beet, turnip, carrot, and others 

 are devices of the plant to tide over some unfavorable period 

 of cold or drought. The first year the large cluster of leaves 

 produces a store of food which is placed in the thick root. 

 The next year the plant sends up rapidly a tall stem with 

 flowers, and goes to seed. From this habit the plant is 

 called a biennial. Sometimes some of these plants will 

 complete their cycle in one season. Examine different 

 fleshy roots. Refer to the supply of food in the root pri- 

 marily intended for the plant itself, but which we make use 

 of for ourselves. 



Plant some turnips or carrots and see what they do. Note 

 the softening and shriveUing of the root as the plant grows. 

 Account for this. Dig out the core of a carrot or turnip 

 without injuring the crown of buds at the top, so as to form 

 a little bucket. Fill with water and hang up in the window; 

 let it develop. Try one with the hole made in the other end 

 and hung upside down. 



Stems conduct the sap and hold the leaves and flowers up 



