FAMILIAR LESSONS IN LOTANY. 



minerals {iiul metals, acids and alkalies, solids and gases 

 into pleasant and agreeable food for the animal creation; 

 Avhile he stands awed at beholding in the linmble grass of 

 the field a poAver and capability of chemical analysis and 

 combination that all his wisdom, with the best-contrived 

 laboratory, cannot essay to imitate. 



I have given you a glimpse into the world whose 

 wonders, beauties, and uses I wish you to investigate. I 

 shall endeavor to divest your study of all difficulties by 

 plain and familiar conversations, avoiding learned techni- 

 calities as much as possible, and aiming to make you 

 thoroughly acquainted Avitli the groundwork of the sci- 

 ence, that you may be prepared to study with pleasure 

 and profit the more elaborate works of Wood, Darby, Gray, 

 and others. As I take it for granted that you are begin- 

 ners, I will commence where Nature commences, with the 

 plant. 



CHAPTER IL 



Section I. — Kinds of Roots. 



I. The root is that part of the plant which supports it 

 in an upright position and supplies it with nourishment 

 for its growth. The large body of the root, the descend- 

 ing axis of the plant, called the tap, serves the first-named 

 purpose ; but it is only the small fibrous rootlets that are 

 furnished with mouths, by which nourishment is taken up 

 from the soil and carried to the other parts of the plant. 

 These mouths appear in the form of small sponge-like 

 bodies on the sides and at the extreme ends of the fibers. 



4. What is the root? What are its uses ? What is the tap root ? What of the 

 fibrous roots y How and where do these mouths appear ? 



