Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-04

its filaments indicated the precise spots where
they have obtained food. This fact may be
well illustrated in the condition OF the roots
in young trees. We had occasion to remove
a dozen young apple trees which were stand
ing on the edge of the garden, and about
three feet from grass field. The trees had
been set three years and were in a vigorous
condition. On the side of the trees next to
the grass land there were very few roots, and
none that were more than six inches in length.
On the garden side they were numerous,
many of them two feet long, and of stocky
growth, that indicated rich pasturage.
In these facts there was unmistakable evil
dsnce of the exercise of choice, as clear a
selection of path to take as human beings
show in preferring one course over another.
Most of these roots did not 90 part of the
way, meet the roots of rank grasses coming
towards them, and then stop. They would
not engage in a contest with natures great
usurper of the soil, the grass, but by a
wonderful instinct-was il reason started
at first for fine, loose and moist soil, where
the nutritive substances which they required
could be found in abundance. There they
ted upon them and fourished.
The roots Of plants travel, but they must
be led as they advance. There is as much
necessity for this as for feeding our horses at
certain stages when travelling over the roads
Roots do not, like animals, advance step by
step through the soil, but rather by elonga-
ton, By the addition off successive layers
which increase their length and breadth from
within Notwithstanding like drawing a
pencil from its case. The new substance
which lengthens the extremity of the root,
and comes in direct contact with the soil. is
very thin, and wonderfully adapted to take
up the liquids that give growth to the plant.
We sometimes find bone in the soil COM
pletely enclosed by network of fine roots.
critical examiner says s. it is difficult to
understand how this could have been accom-
plished, otherwise than by an attraction be-
tween the fibres of the roots and the SUBJ
stance of the bone. The cells, or their con-
tents, are necessarily attracted by the fresh
surface of a substance, for which the con-
tents have chemical attraction. Ii is ow-
ing to this attraction that the roots wind
round the BONE
Rocks, also, attract roots. We occasion
ally find smooth stones with their surfaces
covered with a network of small burrows.
When these stones are newly taken out of
the ground, we find that each furrOw CORES
pOIldS W q IOJtlOs, "HiCu appears DIS IL III udu
eaten into the stone The root had undoubt-
eddy led upon the alkaline or other substances
contained in the stone. In this case there
was an attraction between the roots and the
elements of nutrition in the rock which the
roots needed, and so the roots made their
home about it, and fed and fourished upon
its supplies
If the soil be deep and moist, roots pene-
trate it much deeper than is generally sup
posed. They seem to be wonderfully attract
ed to moist places, but not to cold or stag
nant water. 1t is said that in Welbeck, in
England, the roots Of horse radish plants
were found at depth of seven feet in the
ground At Thoresby Park, drain four
teen feet deep was entirely stopped by the
roots of a coarse grass. Professor johnson
found roots of the wheat plant extending to
the depth Of four OF five feet and those of
some common field grasses nearly as far. An
observing friend traced the roots of red clover
to the depth of Six feet, On the side of a rail-
road cut, in a spot where the 'earth was moist
and light.
The authorities which we have consulted
assert that we see in this the reason why
grain crops On deeply titled soils do not
lodge. Their roots travel into the subsoil,
where they feed on the soluble slicates
(SandY substances,) and supply full coating
to the straw, and consequently the strength
to sustain the weight of the grain On farms
where the subsoil remains undisturbed
plants cannot avail themselves of the nutri-
ment which lies there on others, where the
atmosphere and moisture can freely pass into
ID, this nutriment will be liberated and fur
nished freely to plants.