


Report of the Assistant Horticulturist.* 

Little attention seems to have been given to the systematic study 
of the root growth of plants, a question closely related to the study 
of fertilization and culture. This subject therefore again receives 
careful attention. | 
The work of 1884 has been continued into the past season, the re- 
~ sults of which we give as follows. 
July 16. OrcHARD Grass (Dactylis glomerata). Fine fibrous 
roots fill the soil to a depth of one foot. A large number of the 
roots reached the depth of 21inches. A few were traced to the depth 
of three feet. Roots were traced horizontally a distance of 21 inches 
when they became so small that they were lost among those of other 
plants. 
Tatt MEApow Oat Grass (Avena elatior). Fine fibrous roots 
fill the soil to a depth of 12 inches, many reaching the depth of 21 
inches. A few were traced to the depth of 30 inches. Roots were 
traced horizontally « distance of 24 inches from the plant. 
July 22. Kentucky Buue Grass (Poa pratensis). Very fine 
fibrous roots fill the soil to the depth of about 12 inches, many 
reached the depth of 18 inches. Some very fine roots were traced to 
the depth of 87 inches. The roots extended horizontally about 12 
inches. 
July 23. MEApow Fescus Grass (Festuca pratensis). The soil 
beneath the plants was filled with fine fibrous roots to the depth of 
about 12 inches, several were traced to the depth of 32 inches. The 
horizontal roots extended 9 inches from the plants. 
July 24. Reprop Grass (Agrostis vulgaris). The majority of 
the roots extended almost directly down beneath the plants to the 
depth of 22 inches, a few were traced 40 inches below the surface. 
Horizontal roots extended about 9 inches from the plants. The roots 
were somewhat larger than those of the varieties examined heretofore. 
Mepium Rep CLover (Trifolium pratense). Plants grown from 
seed sown this season. The tap roots extended nearly perpendicu- 
larly downwards to the depth of 34inches. Branches separated from 
the tap root throughout its entire length. These were most numer- 
ous between three and 21 inches indepth. Some of the branches 
were traced 12 inches from the tap root. 
The roots were larger and the fine fibrous ones were less numerous 
than in grasses. 
MEApDow Foxtalt (Alopecurus pratensis). Fibrous roots filled the 
soil to the depth of 18 inches; a number were traced 34 inches from 
the surface. Roots extended horizontally about 18 inches from the 
plant. 
*M. H. Beckwith. 
