THE ROOT. 213 



Only/' observed Mr. Longhurst, there is 

 this difference, that the juices of trees proceed 

 all one way, upwards, or towards the extremi- 

 ties ; but the blood of animals returns conti- 

 nually to the heart, whence it set out — this we 

 call circulation'' 



" A very needful distinction to remember," 

 I said. " The root of a tree supplies, we 

 suppose, the principal part of the nourishment 

 to the whole. It is, however, the small thread- 

 like fibres, which draw those juices from the 

 earth, and not all those stouter parts, which 

 are principally of use to hold the tree in its 

 place." * 



The root," said Mr. Longhurst, is called 

 by botanists, radix ; and you, young gentle- 

 men, know well why." 



O, yes. Sir," said they, we know as much 

 of Latin as that." 



