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This gives some idea of the enormous extent of the root: | 
development of the squash. How many main roots from a. 
single plant extended as far as the one followed I do not 
know, but several started at the base. Pres. Clark, for- 
merly of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, estimated 
that the aggregate length of the roots of a squash vine 
grown under glass amounted to more than fifteen miles, 
and our results obtained in the open garden. in the absence 
of specially favorable conditions indicate that this enormous 
development may be far from improbable. 
TURNIP. 
The roots of a plant of the Purple-Top Globe turnip were 
washed out Oct. 29. The root weighed three pounds, and 
the foliage was very vigorous, but the scanty root develop- 
ment was a matter of surprise. The deepest root appeared 
to extend no more than eighteen inches, and the longest 
horizontal roots reached no further. The tap root tapered 
rapidly from the bottom of the bulb for a distance of six 
inches, where it divided into two branches, each about a 
sixteenth of an inch in diameter. Only thirteen branches 
left the tap root that were as thick as a cambric needle, and 
but few smaller ones. These branch roots did not sub- 
divide as rapidly as in most other plants examined. 
-It is well known that the turnip contains less solid matter 
than other garden roots. Its growth ischiefly made during 
the cool and moist weather of autumn, when there is little 
dearth of moisture in the soil, and it stores up very little 
nourishment. In consideration of these facts, an extensive 
root system is perhaps not to be expected. 
The plants of Muskmelon and Onion, of which the roots 
were examined in 1884, were both rather dwarfed speci- 
mens. The root systems of full grown plants of these were 
therefore examined again, in order to supplement the notes 
then made. : 
MUSKMELON. 
The roots of a plant of the Montreal Nutmeg were washed 
out Sept. 7. The tap root extended perpendicularly but 
about four inches, when it turned nearly at right angles, 
descending only gradually as it progressed. The main hori- 
zontal roots lay two or three inches below the surface, and 
one of these was traced to a distance of five feet from the 
base of the plant, which is further than any of the runners 
extended. One root ran horizontally a distance of fifteen 
inches, when it suddenly turned downward, and was fol- 
lowed for fully two feet. At the depth of twenty inches, 
it branched much in the compact clay. 
