u 
ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE. 
the plant the food that it requires; the others serve for 
their reproduction 
19. The *ot , the stem , and the leaves, are the organs 
-of nutrition Those of reproduction are the flowers, the 
fruits, and the seeds . There are, however, as we shall 
see, when we come to study each one of these organs sep¬ 
arately, several that serve, at the same time, for nutrition 
and reproduction. 
QUESTIONS. 
3. Why is some acquaintance with botany necessary to the farmer? 
2. What does vegetable anatomy treat of? 
3. WTiat is the object of vegetable physiology ? 
4. Do all the organs fulfil the same functions ? 
5. Which are the organs of nutrition ? 
6. Which are the organs of reproduction ? 
LESSON IV. 
THE ROOT. 
20. The root is that part of a plant that generally intro¬ 
duces itself into the soil, and there sucks up a portion of 
the substances necessary to the nutrition of the plant. By 
penetrating into the earth, it serves at the same time to 
support the plant in position. 
21. The whole surface of the root does not concur equal¬ 
ly in the function of nourishing the plant. Its extremity 
is endowed with a greater power of suction than the other 
parts. The mouth that is supposed to exist at the ex¬ 
tremity of roots, is called spongiole. 
22. There are vegetables, the roots of which do not 
penetrate the earth, but grow upon other plants. These 
vegetables are called parasites. The mistletoe, that we 
see upon so many trees, is a plant of this kind. 
23. That part of a plant immediately between the roo 
