22 



the seed-leaves ; but, I imagine, not be- 

 fore the root is capable of absorbing and 

 of transmitting moisture to the plant ; cer- 

 tainly the cotyledons of the seeds of trees, 

 full as they are of stored food, will not 

 nourish their seedlings without a supply 

 of water as well as air. I have known 

 four cotyledons in a seed. In this case 

 twin plants arise. The first side fibres 

 or shoots which are developed on the 

 roots of horse-chesnuts grown in water 

 are regularly arranged in six vertical lines 

 along the root. 



As long as the root is unripe, in other 

 words, unwoody, it is wholly useless ; that 

 is, it has no upward conduit for the sap. 

 The small fibres of the root bear the same 

 relation to a tree as children to a com- 

 monwealth ; so far from being a present 

 source of strength, they are an actual 

 expense and outgoing, though, by their 

 growth and maturity,— that is, when the 



