BOTANICAL OHAEACTERISTICS. 13 



of growth. Forty-two days after planting, 

 when the plants were 18 inches high, the roots 

 of two hills met and passed each other in the 

 center between rows 42 inches apart, and had 

 penetrated to a depth of 18 inches. The sur- 

 face roots sloped gently dowmvard toward the 

 center, where those nearest to the surface were 

 some eight inches deep. At the last Cultiva- 

 tion, when the plants were nearly three feet 

 high, the roots occupied the entire soil to a 

 depth of two feet, with the surface roots six 

 inches below the center between the rows. At 

 tassel time the roots fully occupied the upper 

 three feet of soil in the entire field, and in the 

 center between the rows the surface roots were 

 still higher, a few being scarcely five inches 

 deep. At maturity the roots were found pene- 

 trating to a depth exceeding four feet and 

 within four inches of the surface in the center 

 between rows. In connection with this study 

 Prof. King estimates that the plants on a well- 

 tilled acre are required to pump from below 

 during growth from 300 to 400 tons of water. 

 The wonderful feeding poAver of the corn roots 

 is shown in this striking development and ac- 

 tivity. 



After the corn plant becomes well established 

 and has nearly reached its full height the sec- 

 ondary roots come from the stem near the 

 ground. They first appear as nodules from 



