ROOT. 



13 



roots ; in fact, wherever the soil is loose and yielding, Provi- 

 dence stations these guardians, whose apparently feeble 



Fig. 2. 



threads effectually bind the gliding feet of the sands. Hol- 

 land would have long ago, in spite of all the mechanical 

 skill of her engineers, been swept into the sea, but for these 

 seemingly insignificant roots that meander like life-veins 

 through her soil. We should learn a lesson of wisdom from 

 the Radix rejoens, wlien Ave see them accomplishing what 

 blocks of granite and walls of iron could 

 not do. With the small things of earth 

 God often confounds the mighty, and it 

 would be well for us to remember this 

 oftener than we do. Examples of creeping 

 roots are found in the violet, strawberry, and 

 many grasses. 



21. Fusiform root (Radix fusiformis — 

 fusus, spindle, and /o?*??ifl^, shape). This root 

 is large above, but gradually diminishes to a 

 point. Many garden vegetables possess this 

 form of root, as the beet, radish, and parsnip. 



22. Napiform root (napus, turnip) is 

 large at the upper part, and becomes sud- 

 denly small. 



23. Branching root (Radix ramosa — ranms, a branch) 



Fig. 3. 



21. Vriiat is a fusiform root ? From what is the name derived ? 



22. Napiform ? It? derivation ? Example? of iiapiform root? 



23. Brancbin:?? 



