PLATE 2 
A. Representative root system of the good strain of com. The com was planted 
June 2, 1922, and excavated when the plant was 46 days old. Previous to photo¬ 
graphing, the roots were mounted on a frame with wires stretched at right angles 
6 inches apart each way. On the frame the main roots were placed, as nearly as possi¬ 
ble , in their original position in relation to a vertical line passing through the center 
of the base of the plant. 
B. —Representative root system of a strain of com susceptible to leaf firing. The 
corn was planted June 2 in a row adjacent to the good strain, and excavated when the 
plant was 46 days old. At the time the excavations were made the leaves of the strain 
susceptible to leaf firing were beginning to wilt, although there was no evidence of root 
rotting. Other similar plants of this same strain partially recovered after rains that 
broke the drought. 
The differences in the two types of root systems are very marked, both in number of 
main roots and number and length of lateral branches. 
