6 
plants. 
dined position. This singular circumstance, like a 
great many others which occur every day, is looked 
upon without the smallest surprise ; and, for want 
of novelty, is passed by unnoticed: but the natura- 
list, who is in the habit of observing every operation 
of Nature, will find the subject sufficiently interest- 
ing to arrest his attention. 
Having thus briefly described the manner in 
which the young vegetable shoots from its sheath, 
and bursts into life ; we shall leave the further con- 
sideration of seeds for the present, and proceed to 
the other essential parts of the plant, beginning 
with the root. 
The Root . 
Every root, after it has arrived at a certain age, 
has a double skin. The first exists in the seed, and 
is sent out with the radicle ; but afterwards there is 
a ring, which grows from the bark and forms a se- 
cond skin. This becomes loose; and in the dande- 
lion, towards the end of May, the outer skin appears 
shrivelled, and is easily separated from the new one, 
which is fresher, and adheres firmly to the bark. 
In this respect the roots of plants resemble many of 
the reptile tribe, which annually change their skins. 
Perennial plants, in particular, are supplied in this 
manner with a new skin every year ; the outer one 
falling off in the autumn or winter, and a new one 
supplying its place in the spring. 
There is a bark covering the roots of trees, which 
in most species is very thin in proportion to the 
