30 



HOW PLANTS GROW YEAR AFTER TEAR. 



wilhei-ing away, which grew in spring by one of its buds to make the stem (6) bear 

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

 „ J2 in the course of the sea- 



son thicken at the end 

 as they receive a stock 

 of nourishment prepared 

 by this year's foUage, 

 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 form- 

 ing potatoes magnified, show- 

 ing a little scale behind each soionwn'.-ssai. 

 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. 



