366 
Supplement lo the " Tropical Agriculturist." [Nov. 1, 1902. 
common weed), and "tora" seedlings are to 
be found springing up naturally from seed-beds 
of cattle dung, strikingly showing how seeds are 
disseminated after passing through the alimentary 
canal of animals. 
Speaking of fodder plants we might mention 
that the Algaroba bean described in the Agricul- 
ture Magazine for June, 1901, is now fully 
established in the Colombo Stock Garden, and &i 
it is easily propagated by cuttings there should 
be no diflSculty in multiplying a tree specially 
recommended for drought-stricken districts. 
The excessive dryness of the North-Central 
Province is said to render the destruction of trees 
by burning very easy. By lighting a fire round 
the foot the trees are slowly incinerated, even it is 
stated during showery weather, when the wood is 
consumed underneath the bark. 
Another condition due no doubt to excessive 
dryness, is the hollowneas of the trunks of trees 
of any age. The hollow stems of large tamarind 
trees — and they are much larger than in other 
parts — which mark the sites of old villages form 
a convenient harbour for snakes. 
Many of the wild forms of vegetation in 
the Anuradhapura district i^have bright showy 
blossoms. Chief among these are Memecylon 
umbellatum which bears what Trimen calls 
"brilliant bosses of (blue) flowers along the entire 
length of the branches," Cassia margniata, and 
epecies of BauMnia. 
The hop and honeysuckle are generally cited as 
examples of plants that twine from right to left. 
Indigenous species which have the same property 
lire Limacia cuspida and Dioscorea pentaphylla. 
In the " Buried Cities of Ceylon " mention is 
made of the viscid juice obtained from a tree, 
used with lime and coconut water for 
producing a polished surface on masonry work. 
The name of this tree is given as "para" (Dillena 
dentata). The popular name is apt to be confused 
with the rubber tree known as such, while the 
word Dillena is evidently a misprint for Dillenia, 
According to revised nomenclature the botanical 
name of the tree should be Wormia triquetra, 
while the native name correctly written is 
'* Diya-para." 
We all know the green rose, which might be 
looked upon as an abortion of a flower ; but the 
latest novelty is the blue-rose which has been sent 
to Kew Gardens from the United States. The 
plant is said to have reached with blooms in 
excellent condition, and it is thought will cls^im 
laulji wUb the QboiQest new orchid, 
NATURE STUDY LESSONS. 
SKCOND COURSE IN THE STUDY OF PLANT LIFE. 
2, THE BOOT. 
The roots of plants are generally spoken of 
as the organs of nutrition, because it is by means 
of the roots that plants take up the food they 
obtain from the soil. 
We must first distinguish the actual feeding 
roots from others. lu a large tree, the bigger 
roots have lost the power of absorbing water 
(with plant food in solution } from the soil. 
They indeed collect nothing, and their chief duty 
is to fix the tree firmly to the ground, and to 
convey liquid matter through their woody tissue 
which is similar to that of the stem, about 
which we have already learnt something. 
The roots which actually take part in the 
absorption of plant food from the soil are the most 
delicate roots, and absorption is confined to that 
part of each feeding root which is situated behind 
the extreme end. This absorptive region 
is covered with fine root-hairs — generally very 
closely packed together and so greatly increasing 
the absorbing surface. 
In time this delicate part becomes discoloured 
and hardened, the root-hairs drop off, and the 
power of absorption is lost. But before that 
the rootlet has pushed into the soil and fresh 
hairs have formed on' the new-formed length 
behind the root tip. And this process goes on 
on all healthy roots which, so to speak, travel 
in search of food. 
To prove to yourself what you have been 
told, you should carefully— w?'?/ carefully — raise 
a small plant or seedling of any kind with all 
the adhering earth, and gently place it in a 
basin of water till all the particles of earth 
attached to the roots are detached. If no injury 
to the delicate parts of the roots has taken 
place, you will be able to observe the root- 
hairs I have spoken of, and their situation on 
the roots. 
You will now have some idea of the apparatus 
for absorbing plant food from the soil and how 
delicate it is ; and you will no doubt begin to 
think a little of how we could best protect 
these delicate structures upon which the health 
and vigour of the plant so much depends, as 
well as how we could help them in their work 
of providing nutriment for the plant. But about 
these matters I shall have to tell you something 
when we come to speak of the soil. 
The actual tip of the root that penetrates 
the earth will be found to be protected by a 
"root-cap" (ivhich is constantly being renewed 
from within) ; so that each delicate root has, 
so to speak, a boring instrument at its end to 
burrow out a passage for it through the soil. 
You should try and make out these 'caps' at 
the end of roots. A magnifying glass will help 
you to do this. If you have the screw-pine 
(Wetakeyiya) growing anywhere near, examine 
the ends of the roots — even those above ground— 
and you will probably bQ able tp 668 the ^pot-qa^^ 
eothew, '* 
