THE FOOD OF TREES IS IMBIBED 



PT. II. 



placed horse-chestnut seedlings raised in water having 

 roots about three inches long, with the tips and lower 

 parts of the roots in a shallow saucer of water, and 

 with the seeds and plants outside the saucer. Ml died 

 and dried instantly. These, then, while alive, were 

 supphed by absorption from the surface of the seed, 

 and were not indebted to the immature roots, with 

 their spongioles and capillary stomata. And where 

 are the spongioles and capillary stomata which supply 

 the surface of the seed ? 

 Symmetri- Quc of thcsc experimental plants lived for nearly 



caZ growth ^ ^ 



horse-^ years in water, and was then only killed accident- 



chestnut. The first side-fibres or shoots which are developed 



on the roots of horse-chestnuts grown in water are 

 regularly arranged in six vertical lines along the root. 

 This is the only approach to symmetrical growth that 

 I have ever remarked on the root of a tree. The side- 

 fibres of the root come from the woody part of the 

 main root, as branches do from the woody part of the 

 stem ; and I imagine that, when side-fibres are first 

 developed on the main root, this main root is first 

 becoming sufficiently woody to absorb, and to feed 

 itself and the plant, independently of the seed. 

 Twin oaks. The two bands which unite the seedling to the 

 seed pass one to each division (cotyledon) of the seed. 

 I have known four divisions or cotyledons in an acorn. 

 In this case twin plants arose. 



I know not how to question the roots of mature 

 trees in reference to the absorption of their food by 



