Roots and its Influence on the Ecesis of Plants in Swamps . 15 
Experiments with Ranunculus . 
The following autumn the experiments were repeated on a more exten- 
sive scale. Six plants each of Ranunculus abortiv?is and R. sceleratus t 
potted in soil, were placed in vessels of water so that the roots were com- 
pletely submerged. Three plants of each were left in ordinary garden soil 
as controls. After three months the plants were all in good condition. It 
was found, however, that the plants with submerged roots had produced 
more and larger leaves and considerably more extensive root systems than 
those in moist soil. The roots in all cases, whether submerged or not, were 
distributed throughout the soil. 
Experiments with Corn (Zed) and Beans. 
Eighteen pots each of corn and beans were planted in sets of three 
under the following conditions : in garden soil as a check ; in soil, roots 
submerged ; in peat ; in peat, roots submerged ; in Sphagnum ; and in 
Sphagnum , roots submerged. After the plants were up the cotyledons of 
the beans were removed. They were then allowed to grow two or three 
days before the test was begun. Swamp water was used in watering except 
for plants in soil, for which tap-water was used. The plants were allowed 
to grow three months. At the end of this time the plants of both corn 
and beans growing in soil had made the best development of leaves and 
roots. The roots extended throughout the soil, tending to mat at the 
bottom, and were well provided with root-hairs. Bean plants in soil, with 
roots submerged; developed as many leaves as those in soil not submerged. 
The leaves soon dropped, however, so that at the end of the test the 
plants with submerged roots had only one or two leaves each. Corn in soil, 
with roots submerged, showed little or no retardation in the extent of shoot 
development. Root development after submergence was less extensive and 
entirely superficial in both beans and corn. 
Beans grown in moist peat or Sphagnum developed nearly as much 
foliage as those grown in soil. The plants, however, were not quite as tali 
nor as robust. Root development was not as extensive as in plants grown 
in soil. The roots extended throughout the peat or Sphagnum , tending to 
mass at the bottom of the pots. Root-hairs were present in abundance. 
Beans and corn when grown in either peat or Sphagnum , with the roots 
submerged, showed a marked inhibition in growth. The stems were more 
slender and dwarfed. The leaves were usually less numerous and were 
reduced in size as compared with plants in soil, peat, or Sphagnum , the roots 
of which had not been submerged. Root development was poor. The 
roots of corn grew much more extensively than those of beans, which 
seldom reached out to the edge of the pots. They were always less 
extensive than those of plants in soil with the roots submerged. 
