CHAPTER II
THE SOIL AND THE PLANT
SECTION VII. ROOTS
You have perhaps observed the regularity of arrangement
in the twigs and branches of trees. Now pull up the roots of a
plant, as, for example, sheep sorrel, Jimson weed, or some other
plant. Note the branching of the roots.
In these there is no such regularity as
is seen in the twig. Trace the rootlets to
their finest tips. How small, slender,
and delicate they are! Still we do not
see the finest of them, for in taking the
plant from the ground we tore the most
delicate away. In order to see the real
construction of a root we must grow
one so that we may examine it unin-
jured. To do this, sprout some oats in
a germinator or in any box in which
one glass side has been arranged and
allow the oats to grow till they are two or
more inches high. Now examine the
roots and you will sce very fine hairs,
Fic. 16, Roor-Hairs
ON 4 RaDIsH
similar to those shown in the accompanying figure, forming
a fuzz over the surface of the roots near the tips. This
fuzz is made of small hairs standing so close together that
there are often as many as 38,200 on a single square inch,
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