ep Tre 






THE TREE. iat 
shorter tap roots, since the ground there is not so easy to penetrate. 
The usual length at the end of the first season is from 5 to 8 inches. 
Figure 2 shows graphically the root system of a blackjack and a 
yellow pine. Both trees were growing on a moist to dry gravelly 
loam. The surface root system of each was uncovered and the area 
10 
Sca/e sn Feer 

Hie. 2 (e). 
divided into 4-foot squares, so that direction and length of each 
root could be carefully plotted. It will be seen that the roots of the 
blackjack extend over a large area, while those of the yellow pine, 
though larger in diameter, do not extend the same distance from the 
tree. Probably this is because, as the tree nears maturity, many of 
the roots become diseased and die off. 


