30 



HOW PLANTS GROW TEAR AFTER TEAR. 



withering away, which grew in spring by one of its buds to make the stem {b) bear- 

 ing the foliage of the season. This sends out some branches under ground, which 



in the course of the sea- 

 son thicken at the end 

 as they receive a stock 

 of nourishment prepared 

 by this year'ss foliage, 

 and become new tubers 

 (c, a forming one ; d, d, 

 well-grown tubers of the 

 season), to live over 

 winter and make the 

 next year's growth. 



75. Because they live 

 under ground, these tu- 

 bers are commonly sup- 

 posed to be roots ; but 

 they are not, as any one 

 may see. Their eyes 

 are buds ; and the little 

 scales behind the eyes 

 answer to leaves ; while 

 roots bear neither buds 

 nor leaves. The fibrous roots which grow from these subterranean branches are 

 very different in appearance from under-ground stems, as is plain to see in the 

 Potato-plant. Fig. 60 shows 

 a few of the real roots, as 

 well as several branches of ■* 



the stem, with potatoes form- 

 ing in all stages at their tips. 

 Fig. 61 is one of these forin- 

 ing potatoes magnified, show- 

 ing a little scale behind each 

 eye which answers to a leaf. Fig. 62 is a part of a slice through an eye, more 

 magnified, to show that the eye is really a bud, covered with little scales. 



63 

 Solomon 's-Seal. 



